KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke says Jamaica’s economic performance is the best it has ever been.
The Finance Minister, who was speaking at the opening session of the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Sub-Regional Policy Dialogue on Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Caribbean Region on Wednesday, cited, among the indicators, the country’s robust foreign exchange reserves, low unemployment rate, low debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, as well as sustained periods of growth.
“Jamaica, today, has macroeconomic fundamentals representing the best we have ever had. Our foreign exchange reserves are US$4.7 billion, approaching US$5 billion, greater than ever, and is up 56 percent from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Our unemployment rate is at the lowest level it has ever been, at 4.5 percent, with 148,000 jobs created over the past seven years, and we have recovered from the pandemic in terms of output. To top it off, our debt is the lowest it has been in approximately 25 years,” he added.
The Minister noted that Jamaica has recorded 20 consecutive quarters of positive economic growth, pointing out that the Government is working to ensure that “the periods of growth that you have are longer and longer.”
The two-day forum engages Caribbean policymakers and private sector stakeholders in strategic discussions on creating and strengthening ecosystems that support entrepreneurship and innovation in the region and ways to enhance them to increase economic development.
Clarke noted that the Government had implemented deliberate strategies and policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the country recording an 11 percent increase in registered companies in 2022.
Over 5,400 entities were registered last year with the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ).
“We have never had as many companies formed in Jamaica as in the current era. A lot of it is due to the macroeconomic environment, which is extremely positive, where stability is entrenched, and people have an optimistic view of the future. But it is also due to the vibrant ecosystem we are creating in Jamaica,” Dr. Clarke said.
He noted that a lot of the support to SMEs is being provided in partnership with the IDB through the Boosting Innovation Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (BIGEE) project, accelerator and incubator programs, a patent grant fund, angel investors funds, and private equity funds, among other inputs.
“The ecosystem that we have supported and nurtured is worth $13 billion… for equity investment, to support innovation and entrepreneurship in Jamaica,” the Minister said, pointing out that the abolition of the minimum business tax and the asset tax further served to assist thousands of entrepreneurs.
“Never before in Jamaica’s history has so much equity been available for… entrepreneurial or innovative companies in Jamaica,” Dr. Clarke pointed out.
In his address, the General Manager of Country Department Caribbean Group and Country Representative, Jamaica, IDB, Anton Edmunds, pledged the institution’s support to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation in the region through strategic investments, mobilizing private sector resources, a collaboration between public and private sector players, policy advocacy and knowledge sharing.
“We want to be the partner to help create the ecosystem where entrepreneurs thrive, where research and development is encouraged and innovation flourishes,” he said.
Mr. Edmunds emphasized the urgent need for greater collaboration and innovation in the countries and regions to drive sustainable growth efforts.
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