VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #0118/01 0292036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 292034Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0589
INFO RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000118 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) (JMACK-WILSON) 
WHA/EPSC (MROONEY) (FCORNEILLE) 
EEB/IFD/ODF (MSIEMER) 
EEB/ESC/IEC (GGRIFFIN) 
EEB/IFD/OIA (TWALSH) 
EEB/TRA (VLIMAYE-DAVIS) 
INR/RES (RWARNER) 
INR/I (SMCCORMICK) 
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS 
TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW 
EXPORT IMPORT BANK FOR ANNETTE MARESH 
USTDA FOR NATHAN YOUNG AND PATRICIA ARRIAGADA 
OPIC FOR ALISON GERMAK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EINT EINV ENRG PGOV KTDB KCOR OPIC USTR XL JM
SUBJECT: Jamaica: 2010 Investment Climate Statement 
 
Jamaica: 2010 Investment Climate Statement 
 
 
*    Openness to Foreign Investment 
*    Conversion and Transfer Policies 
*    Expropriation and Compensation 
*    Dispute Settlement 
*    Performance Requirements and Incentives 
*    Right to Private Ownership and Establishment 
*    Protection of Property Rights 
*    Transparency of Regulatory System 
*    Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment 
*    Political Violence 
*    Corruption 
*    Bilateral Investment Agreements 
*    OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs 
*    Labor 
*    Foreign-Trade Zones/Free Ports 
*    Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
*    Web Resources 
 
 
Openness to Foreign Investment 
Return to top 
 
 
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) seeks to attract foreign direct 
investment and markets itself to companies in Europe, North America 
and the Caribbean region.  The GOJ encourages foreign investment as 
a source of development and has no policies or regulations that 
reserve certain sectors exclusively for Jamaicans.  Prime Minister 
Bruce Golding (Jamaica Labor Party), elected in September 2007, 
after 18 years of rule by the People's National Party, publicly 
warns of the negative consequences of red tape as a hindrance to 
potential foreign investment. 
 
 
 
Numerous measures which once inhibited foreign investment, such as 
the Foreign Exchange Control Act and the list of areas reserved for 
local investment only, have been eliminated.  Thus, Jamaica does 
not have any legal impediment to direct foreign investment and 
applies the principle of national treatment to foreign investors. 
 
 
 
With the investment landscape reformed, attention has turned to the 
reduction of processing and approval times for investment-related 
applications.  In particular, USAID has been providing assistance 
to the GOJ and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica for a 
Regulation, Legislation, and Process Improvement Project (LEGS and 
REGS) to remove some of the obstacles to doing business in Jamaica. 
The project staff is currently revising an existing Developer's 
Manual to provide updated information on the administration, 
legislation, regulation and requirements involved in the 
development approval process in Jamaica.  The manual has been 
revised, but there is still much streamlining required in achieving 
the Prime Minister's 90- day turnaround deadline for approvals. 
 
 
 
The LEGS and REGS Project has been paying dividends, as a 2009 
World Bank Doing Business Report listed Jamaica in the top ten 
countries for the Latin America and Caribbean Region in which it 
was easiest to do business. Jamaica ranked above its regional peers 
and compared favorably with OECD countries in areas such as 
starting a business and hiring and firing workers.  It should be 
mentioned that, while Jamaica's Redundancy Act makes it expensive 
to cut staff due to the relatively high severance payments tied to 
length of service (see Labor section below), the Jamaican system 
still ranks higher than its regional peers in the 2009 World Bank 
Ease of Doing Business Report for the category of Hiring Workers. 
It only scores lower than its peers in the subcategory of Firing 
Costs. 
 
 
 
 
 
The Companies Act and the Securities Act govern acquisitions, 
mergers and takeovers for publicly traded companies.  In 1996, the 
Securities Act was revised to bring it in line with international 
regulations.  The takeover code was redesigned to ensure the 
integrity of the securities market while protecting minority 
shareholders.  Jamaica's legal system is based on English common 
law principles and rules covering the enforceability of contracts 
are based thereupon.  The Jamaican judicial system therefore 
recognizes and upholds the sanctity of contracts.  However, in the 
2009 World Bank Doing Business Report, Jamaica slipped 25 rank 
positions for Enforcing Contracts, falling from 102 in 2008 to 127 
in 2009. There are no limits on foreign ownership or control, and 
the Embassy is not aware of any economic or industrial policy that 
has discriminatory effects on foreign investors. 
 
 
 
Foreign investors are generally granted national or Most Favored 
Nation treatment, subject to the rules of their Bilateral 
Investment Treaties (BITS).  There are no screening mechanisms for 
foreign investments, but if investors apply for government 
incentives, they could be required to meet some basic 
pre-requisites and due diligence may be done by the approving 
agency.  This process is not discriminatory and is not intended to 
impede investment.  Jamaica has also undertaken a comprehensive 
program of trade and financial liberalization, and no sector 
remains closed to foreign investment.  However, projects that 
affect national security, have a negative impact on the 
environment, or involve sectors such as life insurance, media or 
mining are subjected to regulation and certain restrictions. 
 
 
 
 
Jamaica's privatization program is open to participation by foreign 
investors, except for those that are on the restricted list due to 
national security concerns. The National Investment Bank, which 
administers privatization, is mandated to ensure that the process 
is fair and transparent.  However, in some privatization 
transactions, the participation of local investors may lead to 
added points in the scoring of proposals.  When large entities are 
being privatized, advertisements are placed in international 
newspapers such as the Financial Times, New York Times and Wall 
Street Journal to attract foreign investors.  An information 
memorandum accompanies privatization proposals and includes the 
specific requirements under which bidders are allowed to 
participate and the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated. 
Foreign investors have won most of the privatization bids in the 
last five years.  The government is currently reviewing some of the 
remaining parastatals with an eye to divestiture. 
 
 
 
The country is party to both multilateral and bilateral treaties, 
which provide for non-discrimination.  Local laws do not 
distinguish between local and foreign investors.  The Embassy is 
not aware of any discrimination against foreign investors at the 
time of initial investment or after the investment is made. 
However, under the Jamaican Companies Act, investors are required 
either to establish a local company or to register a branch office 
of a foreign-owned enterprise.  Branches of companies incorporated 
abroad must also register with the Registrar of Companies if they 
intend to operate in Jamaica.  The Companies Act, which came into 
effect in February 2005, allows foreign companies to hold lands 
without registering in Jamaica.  There are no laws or regulations 
requiring firms to adopt articles of incorporation or association, 
which limit or prohibit foreign investment, participation or 
control.  The Embassy is not aware of any other ways private firms 
could restrict foreign investment. 
 
 
 
Foreign direct investment (FDI) flow was USD 779 million in 2007, 
down from 850 million in 2006 according to the United Nations' 
World Investment Report.  The dynamism in FDI was most evident in 
the construction, telecommunications, tourism, and mining sectors. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Despite significant foreign investment over the years, Jamaica's 
annual GDP growth has been an anemic 1 percent on average, 
indicating that foreign investment does not directly translate into 
GDP growth. Jamaica appears to lack the absorptive capacity to 
benefit from investments requiring high skilled employment, and a 
significant portion of inputs are not sourced locally. 
 
 
 
The introduction of competition in the telecommunications sector 
has attracted three mobile providers and multiple internet service 
provides including three licenses that are being issued to wireless 
service providers.  The GOJ has issued two additional fiber-optic 
licenses to reduce the cost of Internet rates.  Highway 2000, 
Jamaica's first toll road, is being constructed by French company 
Bouygues under a build, operate, and transfer (BOT) model.  Two 
segments of the project, costing over USD 500 million, are 
completed.  A third leg connecting Kingston and the resort area of 
Ocho Rios should be completed by end of 2010. 
 
 
 
With the onset of the global economic crisis, there has been 
significant slowdown in some of Jamaica's critical foreign exchange 
earners.  Growth in the bauxite and tourism sectors has slowed. 
The construction boom of the last three years, which brought in 
over USD 1 billion in FDI in the accommodation sector, has weaned. 
Future projects in the sector have been postponed until the global 
economic climate improves.   This includes investments from Spanish 
hotel chains and the high-end Harmony Cove Tourism Development.  A 
Brazilian company, Infinity BioEnergy, is in negotiations to 
acquire the assets of Jamaica's sugar industry. 
 
 
 
Conversion and Transfer Policies 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
 
Jamaica has no restrictions on holding funds or on transferring 
funds associated with an investment, as the country liberalized its 
foreign exchange market in 1991.  However, foreign exchange 
transactions must be conducted through authorized foreign exchange 
dealers, cambios and bureaux de change at market-determined rates. 
Foreign exchange is generally available, but companies tend to 
source large amounts of foreign exchange over a three to four day 
period.  There are currently no plans to change the policies 
affecting investment remittances and there is no delay period 
currently in effect for remitting investment returns.  There is no 
legal parallel market (tiered system) for foreign exchange 
following liberalization and there are no limitations on the inflow 
or outflow of funds for any transaction.  Recently surveyed U.S. 
companies indicated no problems or delays in accessing foreign 
exchange or remitting investment returns. 
 
 
 
Expropriation and Compensation 
 
------------------------------ 
 
 
 
Property rights are protected under Section 18 of the Jamaican 
Constitution.  Expropriation of land may take place under the Land 
Acquisition Act, which provides for compensation on the basis of 
market value.  Expropriation can take place before compensation is 
paid, but interest for the period between the expropriation and the 
compensation settlement must be paid.  According to the law, the 
purpose of any expropriation must be transparent, and compensation 
for expropriated property must be adequate.  If informal 
negotiation on compensation fails, the investor has recourse in the 
courts.  Jamaica has signed bilateral agreements for the reciprocal 
promotion and protection of investments with a number of countries, 
including the United States.  The Embassy is not aware of any 
 
 
 
 
 
litigation between the Jamaican government and any private 
individual or company based on expropriation or on compensation for 
expropriation.  There are currently no laws that force local 
ownership. 
 
 
 
Dispute Settlement 
 
 
------------------ 
 
 
 
Disputes between enterprises are handled in the local courts, but 
foreign investors can refer cases to the International Center for 
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).  There have been cases 
of trademark infringements in which U.S. firms took action and were 
granted restitution in the local courts.  The Jamaican Constitution 
provides for an independent judiciary with a three-tier court 
structure.  Claims may be brought before the Magistrate or Supreme 
Court.  Appeals on decisions made in these courts can be taken 
before the Court of Appeal and then to the Judicial Committee of 
the Privy Council in the United Kingdom.  Plans were afoot for the 
Privy Council to be replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice 
(CCJ), which will consider and determine appeals in civil and 
criminal matters from common law courts within CARICOM member 
states.  However, the then-opposition Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) 
opposed the process and took the case to the Privy Council which 
supported their position.  If Jamaica were to replace the Privy 
Council with the CCJ it will likely require a national referendum, 
although it is not likely in the near-term.  Jamaica has effective 
means for enforcing property and contractual rights through: (1) 
The Judgment and Awards (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act; (2) The 
Judgment (Foreign) (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act; (3) The 
Arbitration (Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Awards) Act; 
and, (4) The Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act. 
Under these acts, judgments of foreign courts are accepted and 
enforced in all cases where there is a reciprocal enforcement of 
judgment treaty with the relevant foreign state. 
 
 
 
A number of disputes, involving foreign investors and GOJ, on the 
one hand, and foreign investors and a local association, on the 
other, arose during 2005.  The first dispute, which is yet to be 
resolved as of early 2010, involves the implementation of a levy by 
the GOJ on in-coming telephone calls for a Universal Access Fund to 
finance computers and other information-related activities in 
Jamaican schools.  However, U.S. long-distance telephone companies 
have been resisting the move and have requested that the Federal 
Communications Commission put pressure on Jamaica to desist from 
collecting the fees. 
 
 
 
There is a Bankruptcy Act dealing with personal insolvency, a 
Companies Act dealing with corporate insolvency, and other statutes 
such as the Bills of Exchange and the Sale of Goods Acts dealing 
with commercial matters.  There are also extensive common law 
principles, which are written and consistently applied.  Under the 
bankruptcy laws, creditors can petition for an order against an 
individual or a winding up order against the company and will be 
entitled to share in the assets of the bankrupt on a pro-rata 
basis, after certain specified preferential creditors such as 
redundant employees.  The claimant has the option of settling a 
claim in the currency in which the debt or obligation was incurred 
or in local currency. 
 
 
 
Jamaica, a signatory to the International Center for Settlement of 
Disputes (ICSID) since 1965, accepts international arbitration of 
investment disputes between Jamaicans and foreign investors.  Local 
courts also recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards. 
International arbitration is also accepted as a means for settling 
investment disputes between private parties.  However, acting in 
 
 
 
 
 
its role as an international tribunal, the CCJ will interpret and 
apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, including the CARICOM 
Single Market and Economy.  There is no formal domestic arbitration 
body in Jamaica, but disputing parties can use arbitration 
proceedings to settle their disputes.  These proceedings would be 
guided by the Arbitration Act which sets out the procedures 
disputing parties would follow once they agree on arbitration and 
is read in conjunction with the Arbitration Clauses Protocol Act, 
which in turn makes reference to how foreign arbitral awards will 
be addressed.  If a foreign investor's country has a BIT with 
Jamaica, then the rules of this treaty would apply.  Other foreign 
investors are given national treatment and civil procedures would 
apply. 
 
 
 
Performance Requirements and Incentives 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
Jamaica is a signatory to the World Trade Organization Agreement 
and is in compliance with most Uruguay Round obligations, including 
the TRIMS Obligations.  There are no performance requirements 
imposed as a condition for investing in Jamaica.  The GOJ offers a 
number of incentives to attract investments, particularly those 
that generate foreign exchange and expand employment.  Some current 
incentives are non-compliant with the WTO Agreement on Subsidies 
and Countervailing Measures and should have been phased out by 
2003, but have not been.  However, Jamaica was granted an extension 
by the WTO to revise its incentives and is awaiting reports from 
the World Bank-affiliated Foreign Investment Advisory Service and a 
local Tax Review Committee to complete the process.  Chief among 
the current incentives are: 
 
 
 
(a) The Export Industry Encouragement Act (EIEA) - entitles 
companies manufacturing products for export to non-CARICOM member 
countries benefits such as exemption from income and dividend taxes 
for up to ten years, and exemption from import duties on raw 
material and machinery during the incentive period.  Service 
industries were included in 1990 and in 1996 the EIEA was amended 
to include companies that do not export 100 percent of their 
output. 
 
 
 
(b) The Hotel Incentives Act - entitles hoteliers to income and 
dividend tax relief for up to ten years.  Hoteliers may also 
receive an exemption from import duties for constructing or 
expanding hotels, but must have at least ten rooms and facilities 
for other activities.  Income tax relief is granted for 15 years to 
hotels that meet certain qualifications including: having 10 to 350 
rooms, facilities for holding conferences and operation by a 
qualified general manager.  The Resort Cottages Incentives Act 
allows for income and dividend tax relief and duty-free importation 
of articles required to construct and equip resort cottages for up 
to seven years. 
 
 
 
(c) The Motion Picture Industry Encouragement Law - motion picture 
producers can receive duty relief on imported goods for use in 
motion picture production as well as income tax exemption from the 
date of release or exhibition of each motion picture produced in 
Jamaica for a period of nine years.  Producers are also granted a 
tax deduction of 70 percent of the capital expenditure incurred in 
acquiring facilities either in the year in which the cost is 
incurred or in any subsequent year at the option of the producer. 
 
 
 
(d) Approved farmer status under the Income Tax Act - certified 
persons or companies engaged in growing food or seed crops, 
horticulture, aquaculture, tobacco and animal husbandry are 
 
 
 
 
 
 
eligible for income tax relief for up to ten years, renewable as 
well as concessionary duty rates on farm vehicles. 
 
 
 
(e) The International Finance Company Act - available to finance 
companies conducting business solely with foreigners.  With regard 
to Jamaican operations, non-residents must hold at least 95 percent 
of the loan capital.  Profits of an approved corporate body are 
taxed at a rate of only 2.5 percent. 
 
 
 
(f) The Shipping Incentives Act - approved shipping corporations 
are granted import duty and income tax concessions for a period of 
ten years. 
 
 
 
(g) The Foreign Sales Corporation Act - provides exemption from 
income tax for five years for qualified income arising from foreign 
trade.  U.S. law through the Tax Information Exchange Agreement 
(TIEA) reinforces this incentive. 
 
 
 
(h) The Industry Modernization Program (IMP) and Moratorium on 
Duties - under the IMP, companies are exempt from general 
consumption tax on capital goods acquired for modernization.  The 
Minister of Finance may award a moratorium on import duties on 
capital items for up to three years to companies, which do not 
qualify under existing incentive legislation and have the potential 
to contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings. 
 
 
 
(i) Accelerated Depreciation - certified companies are allowed to 
deduct 50 percent of the full cost of new machinery in the year of 
purchase and a further 50 percent in the following year. 
 
 
 
(j) Other Incentives - a number of development banks provide 
concessionary financing for projects.  The Jamaican National EXIM 
Bank provides concessionary interest rate loans for trade 
financing, while the Development Bank of Jamaica offers reduced 
lending rates to the productive sectors.  The National Investment 
Bank of Jamaica also provides equity and quasi-equity financing for 
key economic sectors listed under the National Industrial Policy. 
 
 
 
Foreign investors and their investment are generally granted 
national treatment status, subject to the rules outlined in their 
BIT.  In essence, Jamaica has no performance requirements, except 
for companies with Free Zone status, which must export at least 85 
percent of their output.  Foreign firms are allowed to participate 
in GOJ-financed or subsidized R&D programs on a national treatment 
basis.  Work permits are granted by the Ministry of Labor for a 
specified period, but are subject to the individual obtaining a 
working visa from the Jamaican Consulate available in or near their 
home state.  Since 2005, foreign nationals who are conducting 
business on short-term basis will not require a business visa once 
they will be in Jamaica for a period not exceeding thirty days. 
However, foreign nationals will need a business visa to enter 
Jamaica if they are conducting business for periods exceeding 
thirty days.  Foreign nationals who need visas for entry to Jamaica 
will require a business visa to conduct business. 
 
 
 
All importers are subject to the same procedures when trading in 
goods and services.  To qualify for entry certificates, importers 
must obtain, inter alia, a supplier invoice, a certificate of value 
and origin, a declaration of value, and a bill of lading and sight. 
Products imported into Jamaica must also meet specific acts 
administered by the Jamaica Bureau of Standards.  In December 2001, 
 
 
 
 
 
E 
 
Jamaica imposed the International Organization for Standardization 
ISO date representation (yy/mm/dd) as the official format for 
trade, but date labels are still accepted in the traditional 
European style (dd/mm/yy).  The Jamaican economy is relatively 
open, but some non-tariff barriers remain.  For instance, the 
Veterinary Division requires certification from a U.S. federal 
agency for all products containing animal and animal by-products 
irrespective of quantity or form.  Highly processed products such 
as cookies and chips therefore require certification from a 
government veterinarian.  The Coffee and Coconut Industry Boards 
also have to issue import certificates for coffee beans and cooking 
oils, respectively, but importers can experience lengthy delays in 
obtaining these permits.  Under intense pressure from farmers 
cooperatives, the GOJ instituted a 100 percent Common External 
Tariff (CET) plus an 80 percent Additional Stamp Duty (ASD), 
compounded to 260 percent, on whole chicken and leg-quarters and a 
number of imported vegetables. 
 
 
 
Right to Private Ownership and Establishment 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
All private entities are entitled to establish and own business 
enterprises and engage in all forms of remunerative activity, 
subject to, inter alia, labor, registration and environmental 
requirements.  Private entities are also free to establish, acquire 
and dispose of interests in business enterprises.  Public and 
private enterprises have equal access to markets, credit and 
business operations, such as licenses and supplies.  However, if 
the GOJ has to compete with the private sector, it will do so on a 
competitive basis so as to not distort the market. 
 
 
 
Protection of Property Rights 
 
----------------------------- 
 
 
 
The Jamaican Constitution guarantees property rights.  Jamaica has 
a system of registered titles set out in the Registration of Titles 
Act, which recognizes and provides for the enforcement of secured 
interests in property by way of mortgage.  It also facilitates and 
protects the acquisition and disposition of all property rights, 
though working through Jamaica's cumbersome bureaucracy can result 
in significant delays. In particular, it sometimes takes a long 
time for landowners to secure titles. Squatting, especially on 
crown (government) lands has also become a challenge in the last 
ten years.  Jamaica is a member of the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO) and is a signatory of the Bern Convention. 
Jamaica and the U.S. have an Intellectual Property Rights Agreement 
and a BIT, which provide assurances to protect intellectual 
property.  However, Jamaica remains a special 301 "Watch List" 
country, largely because the patent law is not compliant with the 
Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
(TRIPS).  Work is advanced on a new Patent & Designs Bill, 
including new rules and fee structures.  It is anticipated that the 
Bill which will be fully TRIPS compliant could be passed by the 
next legislative year. A Geographical Indications Act (GI) was 
passed in 2004 to protect products that originate from localities 
where a particular quality or reputation is attributable to its 
geographical origin.  The Geographical Indications Act and 
regulations is now fully in force and TRIPS compliant.  General law 
provides protection for trade secrets.  Protection against unfair 
competition is also provided by the general law and the Fair 
Competition Act. 
 
 
 
The Copyright Act of 1993, as amended, complies with the TRIPS 
Agreement and adheres to the principles of the Bern Convention, and 
 
 
 
 
 
covers works ranging from books and music to computer programs. 
Amendments in June 1999 make explicit the provision of copyright 
protection on compilations of works such as databases and make it 
an offense for a person to manufacture or trade in decoders of 
encrypted transmissions.  It also gives persons having rights in 
encrypted transmissions or in broadcasting or cable program 
services a right of action against persons who infringe their 
rights.  The act needs to be amended to give effect to the 
provisions of the WIPO WCT and WPPT (Internet) Treaties to which 
Jamaica acceded in 2002.  The Trademark Act of 1999 is also 
compliant with the TRIPS Agreement and provides the owner of 
registered trademarks exclusive rights for up to ten years, 
renewable.  It provides for the protection of "well-known" marks 
under the Paris Convention on Industrial Property Rights of which 
Jamaica is a signatory.  A TRIPS compliant Layout Designs Act has 
also been in effect since June 1999.  The act provides protection 
for layout-designs for integrated circuits and gives the rights 
owner the exclusive right to reproduce, import, sell or otherwise 
commercially exploit the layout-design and to authorize other 
persons to do so.  That right is in place for ten years and may be 
transferred by the rights owner. 
 
 
 
Transparency of Regulatory System 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
 
 
A Fair Competition Act (FCA) was implemented in 1993 and is 
administered by the Fair Trading Commission.  The main objective of 
the FCA is to prevent business interests and government policies 
from hindering the efficiencies to be gained from a competitive 
system.  The FCA deals with misleading advertisements, 
price-fixing, collusion, unfair trading practices and interlocking 
directorships.  To date the FTC has investigated over 5,000 cases, 
the majority of which are consumer protection related. 
 
 
 
There are laws and policies covering taxation, labor, health and 
other issues to avoid distortions or impediments to the efficient 
mobilization and allocation of investment.  However, investors 
argue that the Redundancy Act, which deals with severance payment, 
is a disincentive to investment funds.  In 2001, the mandate of the 
Anti-Dumping and Subsidies Commission was expanded through the 
implementation of a Safeguards Act, which protects producers from 
import surges.  The GOJ also established the Office of Utilities 
Regulation to act as regulator of the country's utilities. 
 
 
 
Although there has been improvement in the approval process for 
investment projects, it can still take anywhere from three months 
for Free Zone projects to over a year for green-field projects. 
Having recognized the problem, the GOJ has intensified its efforts 
to reduce bureaucracy as well as improve transparency and customer 
service levels within the public sector.  A Ministry of Development 
was established to deal with investment bottlenecks.  As stated 
above, the private sector, GOJ and USAID have also joined forces to 
implement a project (LEGS and REGS) to identify and deal with key 
legislation, regulations and processes that constrain business. The 
project is currently addressing the reform process with regard to 
the approval for development and building permits.  It should be 
noted that as a result of this work, Jamaica was the top reformer 
globally this year on Dealing with Construction Permits, in the 
World Bank Doing Business 2009 Report, improving its rank on that 
indicator by 25 spots to 49th place. 
 
 
 
The Embassy is not aware of any informal regulatory processes 
managed by NGOs or private sector associations or of any private 
sector and/or GOJ effort to restrict foreign participation in 
industry standards-setting consortia or organizations.  However, in 
December 2004, the Free Trade Commission (FTC) implemented a 
 
 
 
 
 
non-legislative code of conduct governing the petroleum industry. 
The mandates of this code place restrictions on property sales and 
contracts between marketing companies and retailers, and are 
enforceable through fines levied by the FTC. Proposed legislation 
is available for public comment and submissions are generally 
invited from members of the public for items considered to be 
controversial.  The legal, regulatory and accounting systems are 
transparent and consistent with international norms, and Jamaica 
has adopted the new International Financial Reporting System. 
 
 
 
Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
Since the 1980s, Jamaica has initiated reforms aimed at fostering 
private sector activity and increasing the role of market forces in 
resource allocation.  These reforms intensified in the 1990s, 
resulting in trade, financial and capital account liberalization. 
This has led to the availability of credit on market terms and 
foreigners are allowed to borrow freely on the local market at 
market-determined rates of interest.  While some major financial 
products are still lacking, the private sector still has access to 
a variety of credit instruments. 
 
 
 
Jamaica has an effective regulatory system established to encourage 
and facilitate portfolio investment.  The Financial Services 
Commission and the Bank of Jamaica jointly regulate portfolio 
investment.  At the end of September 2008, the country's four 
largest commercial banks had total assets amounting to over USD 6 
billion or 90 percent of the entire assets of commercial banks. 
Five of the country's seven commercial banks, including the four 
largest, are foreign-owned.  During the mid-1990s there was a 
meltdown in the financial sector often referred as "FINSAC", but 
since 1998 there has been consolidation and increased output 
performance in the sector.  Significant strides have also been made 
in terms of the regulatory framework, which are now in line with 
international standards. The non-performing loans portfolio as a 
percentage of the total asset base has moved from seven percent in 
2000 to 2.4 percent at the end of September 2008. 
 
 
 
Based on the Rule 404 of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), fully 
paid shares shall be free from any restriction on the right of 
transfer and from all liens.  Two listed companies have clauses 
within their memoranda and articles of association that restrict 
foreign investors, but these predate the JSE.  JSE listing 
arrangements allow for 20 percent of issued share capital to be 
listed, but there is no requirement that stipulates that this 
threshold must be maintained after listing.  The rules of the JSE 
and the Security Acts also have specific provisions relating to the 
process of takeover and mergers, but these are general and, given 
that there are no specific provisions (except in the cases 
mentioned above) regarding restrictions to foreign participation, 
it follows that there are no specific measures designed to protect 
against hostile foreign takeovers. 
 
 
 
Political Violence 
 
------------------ 
 
 
 
 
Jamaica has a few incidents involving politically motivated damage 
to projects and/or installations.  Although, crime poses a greater 
threat to foreign investments than do politically motivated 
activities.  In April 2009 there were small sporadic disturbances 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in response to a new gas tax, although they were nothing like the 
three days of rioting in 1999 in response to a similar gas tax 
hike.  The resort city of Montego Bay experienced a day of social 
unrest in 2003, in response to alleged police excesses. The street 
demonstration, which included the blocking of roads, affected the 
flow of tourists between hotels and the airport.  At the 2008 
Jamaica Labour Party's annual conference there was a shooting that 
resulted in a death.  Violent crime, rooted in poverty, 
unemployment, and drug trafficking, is a serious problem in 
Jamaica, particularly in Kingston.  Sporadic gang violence and 
shootings are concentrated in certain inner city neighborhoods, but 
can occur in other areas.  Extortion is a serious problem in 
certain areas of the commercial district and on large construction 
projects.  In 2009 the GOJ also diverged from the past and has been 
less cooperative with the USG in its response to requests for the 
extradition of alleged leaders of high-profile criminal 
organizations.  This issue of concern will be closely monitored 
during 2010. 
 
 
 
Corruption 
 
---------- 
 
 
 
Jamaica has a Corruption Prevention Act (CPA), which established a 
Corruption Prevention Commission in 2003 to, among other things: 
(1) receive, examine and document the statutory declarations of 
public sector workers; (2) receive and investigate any complaint 
regarding an act of corruption; and, (3) conduct investigation into 
acts of corruption, if satisfied there are reasonable grounds to do 
so.  To date there has been no enforcement, as the commission lacks 
the capacity to enforce the filing of declarations.  Recent reports 
suggest that non-compliance is running at over 30 percent. 
However, the commission will be working with the Director of Public 
Prosecution to have enforcement measures implemented.  The Embassy 
is not aware of any disproportionate application of corruption 
measures against foreign investors, but some members of the private 
sector perceive that the law is not applied impartially among 
locals. During a recent panel discussion on governance, a GOJ 
Senator also stated that Jamaica had not done well in eliminating 
corruption from the public sector. 
 
 
 
Jamaica is a signatory of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and has 
ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. 
Anti-corruption initiatives have been taken within the Jamaica 
Constabulary Force as well as some private sector organizations. 
Prosecutors also continue to take part in regional anti-corruption 
conferences, with one such conference developed by the United 
States Department of Justice (USDOJ).  However, Jamaica is not a 
signatory to the UN Anticorruption Convention.  The Embassy is not 
aware of any U.S. firm identifying corruption as an obstacle to 
foreign investment.  Transparency International (TI) performed a 
formal study of corruption in 2003.  The TI report identifies 
widespread political, petty, and narcotics-related corruption as 
being prevalent in Jamaica.  According to Transparency 
International's Perception Index, the perception of corruption in 
Jamaica has worsened in the past three years.  The island has slid 
from a score of 3.7 out of 10 in 2006, to 3.3 in 2007, to 3.1 in 
2008, down to 3.0 in 2009.  This score places Jamaica in the same 
category as Dominican Republic, Madagascar, and Senegal. 
 
 
 
Corruption may well be the single greatest concern among Jamaicans, 
most of whom believe it one of the root causes of the high crime 
rate. In the past year, 16 police officers have been arrested for 
alleged acts of corruption, but only one has been at senior level. 
Despite numerous allegations of public corruption, the last 
conviction of a politician on corruption charges was in 1981. In 
recent times only one politician has been arrested on charges of 
corruption; he is currently awaiting trial. 
 
 
 
 
 
Under the Corruption Prevention Act (CPA), it is an offense to 
solicit or accept a bribe.  Public servants can be imprisoned for 
up to ten years and fined as much as JMD ten million if found 
guilty of engaging in acts of bribery.  Individuals and companies 
are also criminally liable if they bribe foreign public officials 
and can be prosecuted and face the same penalties.  The legislation 
covers public officials who meet the JMD two million salary 
threshold and those working in sensitive positions such as police 
and military officers.  However, it is well known that a number of 
public officials have been delinquent in complying with mandatory 
filing.  The creation of the CPA could be viewed as evidence that 
GOJ officials are taking anti-corruption efforts seriously. 
However, financial constraints have crippled the commission's 
ability to fully execute its mandate of enforcing asset 
declarations.  In 2007, The GOJ passed into law the Proceeds of 
Crime Act (POCA), a powerful legal tool that allows for both 
criminal and civil forfeiture and criminalizes money laundering 
related to narcotics offenses, fraud, firearms trafficking, human 
trafficking, terrorist financing and corruption, and applies to all 
property or assets associated with an individual convicted or 
suspected of involvement with a crime. 
 
More active enforcement of the POCA by the GOJ would certainly 
strengthen anti-corruption efforts. 
 
 
 
U.S. investors should be aware of the U.S. provisions of the 
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) which, in general, prohibits 
corrupt payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining 
or keeping business.  See the U.S. Department of Justice website 
for more information.  http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/ 
 
 
 
 
The CPA also contains provisions for the extradition of Jamaican 
citizens for crimes of corruption.  In April 2002, Prime Minister 
Patterson tabled a code of conduct in Parliament for government 
ministers.  The 49-point code covers such issues as conflict of 
interest and integrity in the conduct of public and private 
business.  The agency responsible for combating corruption is the 
Commission for the Prevention of Corruption.  Other "watchdog" 
organizations operating in Jamaica include Transparency 
International, Jamaicans for Justice, Families Against State 
Terrorism and the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs. 
 
 
 
Bilateral Investment Agreements 
 
------------------------------- 
 
 
 
Jamaica has investment treaties with the United States (Feb. 1994, 
which came into force in March 1997), Argentina (Feb. 1994), France 
(Jan. 1993), Italy (Sept. 1993), Germany (Sept. 1992), Netherlands 
(Apr. 1991), Switzerland (Dec. 1990), the United Kingdom (Jan. 
1987), China (1998), Cuba (May 1997), Egypt (Feb. 1999), Indonesia 
(Feb. 1999) and Zimbabwe (Feb. 1999) and is presently negotiating 
bilateral investment agreements with South Korea, Costa Rica, 
Belgium, Russia and Canada.  Jamaica has also signed and ratified 
double taxation agreements with the U.S., Canada, CARICOM, China, 
Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the United 
Kingdom. 
 
 
 
OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has identified 
infrastructure, telecommunications, construction, tourism and 
renewable energy as areas where its programs can have an impact in 
Jamaica.  OPIC political risk insurance can insure up to USD 40 
million per project.  OPIC also provides medium to long-term 
financing to ventures with significant U.S. participation.  OPIC 
can normally guarantee or lend from USD 0.1 to 250 million per 
project.  OPIC has historically committed more than USD 750 million 
in insurance and financing to support over 80 projects in Jamaica 
in industries such as construction, energy, telecommunications, and 
tourism.  The country became a signatory to the Multilateral 
Investment Guarantee Agency in 1986 and ratified the agreement in 
¶1987. 
 
 
 
The foreign exchange market remained relatively stable for the 
first nine months of 2008, depreciating by 1.6 percent.  However, 
by October the effects of the global financial crisis became 
evident, with the local currency slipping by over eight percent to 
the first week of December.  The sharp depreciation has been 
underpinned by a confluence of demand and supply factors led by 
increased margin calls from overseas creditors.  Demand pressures 
were also compounded by increasing Jamaican dollar liquidity as 
local financial institutions converted maturing debt instruments 
into hard currency.  The increased demand for hard currency could 
not have come at a worse time, as it coincided with the slow period 
for inflows and the traditional demand spike for foreign currency 
to purchase Christmas supplies.  But one of the single greatest 
shocks to the foreign exchange market came from the negative 
ratings released by the three main ratings agencies.  But a 
currency adjustment was not unexpected given the 16.8 percent spike 
in inflation to September, 2008, which represented an almost 15 
percent real appreciation in the currency.  And with confidence 
waning and rising inflation rendering returns on local instruments 
negative, investors were always going to switch to foreign assets 
to hedge against any further erosion in real returns.  High 
commodities prices led by oil imports had also influenced a USD 793 
million deterioration in the current account balance to June 2008. 
With foreign investment inflows drying up and the capital market 
shut, there would have been a shortfall in the supply of foreign 
inflows required to finance the current account, thus forcing the 
exchange rate to adjust. 
 
 
 
To address the instability, the Central Bank drew on its arsenal of 
monetary tools to temper demand pressures.  On October 15, the Bank 
introduced a temporary USD loan facility for institutions affected 
by margin calls.  Two days later the Bank complemented this 
response by hiking interest rates by up to 1.2 percent.  The bank 
followed up by facilitating the flow of credit among financial 
institutions to moderate the pressures in the foreign exchange 
market, while assisting the continued functioning of the inter-bank 
credit market.  At the same time, the Bank sold over USD 400 
million or 20 percent of its stock of Net International Reserves 
(NIR) to the currency market to shore up supplies, thus, bringing 
NIR down from USD 2.1B in 2007 to USD 1.7B in December 2008. 
However, these policy responses were not sufficient to alleviate 
the demand pressures in the currency market, due to a build up in 
Jamaica dollar liquidity stemming from maturing debt instruments. 
To remove this liquidity, the Bank embarked on an even more 
aggressive monetary program, offering an attractive short term 
instrument with interest payable at 20.5 percent as well increasing 
the cash reserve requirement by two percentage points to 11 
percent.  Interest rates were further hiked to as high as 24 
percent for one year instruments.  These measures were accompanied 
by an 18-month GOJ USD indexed bond with a coupon of 11.5 percent. 
 
 
 
 
Labor 
 
 
------- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jamaica had an estimated labor force of 1.3 million at the end of 
January 2008, of which 10.2 percent was unemployed.  Since 1999 
there has been a steady increase in the numbers of people trained 
in information technology, particularly for call centers, and most 
of these workers have been absorbed by the growing call center 
industry.  There has also been a jump in the number of university 
graduates, but the numbers have been depleted by migration to North 
America and the UK.  This has apparently led to a shortage of 
highly educated and experienced labor as evidenced by the number of 
advertisements for these workers in the newspapers weekly.  On the 
other hand, there has been a marked increase in the number of work 
permits issued to expatriates, particularly in the services 
sectors.  In 2007, a total of 5,927 permits were issued, down 6.3 
percent, suggesting a falloff in the demand for permits as some 
tourism projects are completed. 
 
 
 
Jamaica has an active and strong trade union movement with 
membership equal to an estimated 20 percent of the labor force, 
although the movement is considerably weaker now than historically 
has been the case.  Labor relations have traditionally been 
adversarial due to the level of distrust between workers and 
management. However, both parties have attempted to enhance the 
relationship between them by enacting a program for the management 
of labor cooperation (PROMALCO). 
 
 
 
Jamaica has a number of labor friendly laws including the 
Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act, 1974 (as 
amended) (ETRPA). Under the Act, subject to some exclusions, 
employees with not less than two years continuous employment, who 
are dismissed on the grounds of "redundancy" are entitled to 
redundancy payment.  As a general rule, workers with up to ten 
years continuous employment are entitled to two weeks payment for 
every year as well the requisite notice pay, while workers with 
over ten years continuous employment are entitled to three weeks 
payment plus notice pay (notice pay is the period in which the 
employee must give notice to their employer before leaving their 
position except in certain cases such as firing for cause). 
 
 
 
Jamaica has ratified the following ILO Conventions: Right of 
Association (Agriculture) Convention 1921 - ratified July 8, 1963; 
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize 
Convention, 1948 - ratified December 26, 1962; and, Right to 
Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 - ratified 
December 26, 1962.  The GOJ is adopting the ILO policy on HIV/AIDS 
in the workplace.  The GOJ, working in conjunction with the ILO and 
local stakeholders, has also developed a national plan of action on 
flexibility in working time to guide flexible working arrangements 
in Jamaica.  Under the Work Permit Act, a foreign national who 
wishes to work in Jamaica must first apply for a permit issued by 
the Ministry of Labor.  The law, which seeks to give first 
preference to Jamaicans, requires organizations planning to employ 
foreign nationals to prove that attempts were made to employ a 
Jamaican national. 
 
 
 
Foreign-Trade Zones/Free Ports 
 
------------------------------ 
 
 
 
Jamaica's Free Zones Act allows investors to operate solely with 
foreign exchange in activities such as warehousing, refining, 
manufacturing, redistribution, processing, assembling, packaging, 
and services such as insurance and banking.  Incentives offered 
include a 100-percent tax holiday in perpetuity, no import 
licensing requirements, and exemption from customs duties on 
construction and raw materials, capital goods, and office 
equipment.  Manufacturing companies operating in the Free Zones are 
allowed to sell 15 percent of their production on the local market 
 
 
 
 
 
with the approval of the responsible minister.  Duty-free zones are 
primarily found in airports, hotels, and tourist centers and, as 
with free zone activities; do not discriminate on the basis of 
nationality.  The Kingston and Montego Bay Free Zones provide 
factory space for the above listed activities.  Amendments have 
also been made to the Jamaica Export Free Zone Act to allow for the 
establishment of Single Entity Free Zones, with individual 
companies now designated as free zones.  The Kingston Free Zone has 
recently developed an Informatics Park. 
 
 
 
For foreign trade zone information investors can contact: 
 
 
 
Ms. Beverly Williamson, Senior Vice-President, Business Management 
and Special Projects, Kingston and Montego Bay Free Zones, 27 
Shannon Drive, Kingston 15, Tel: (876) 922-0290-8; 923-5274-5/6021; 
Fax: (876) 923-6023. 1 Mangrove Way, Montego Bay Free Port, P.O. 
Box 1377, Montego Bay, Tel:(876) 979-8696; Fax (876) 979-8088; 
Email:bwillaimson@portjam.com 
 
 
 
Mr. Horace Sutherland, General Manager, Factories Corporation, 1 
King St. Kingston, Tel: (876) 924-9600 -1; Fax: (876) 924-9630; 
Email: factories@cwjamaica.com 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
 
 
f. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
 
 
 
Table 1:  FDI Stock in Jamaica (USD Million) 
 
 
 
                        2002    2004    2005    2006     2007 
2008 
 
Inward            4409   5783   6335   7264    8580   9456 
 
Outward            872   1079   1174   1257       817   1452 
 
Source:  World Investment Report, 2005 
 
 
 
Table 2:  FDI Stock as a Percent of GDP 
 
 
 
                       2002    2004    2005    2006    2007   2008 
 
Inward            56.7     66.4     65.1     68.8        77    65.7 
 
 
Outward        11.2     12.4     12.1     11.9        12    10.1 
 
Source:  World Investment Report, 2005 
 
 
 
Table 3:  Inward FDI (USD Million) 
 
 
 
                                                2003   2004    2005 
2006    2007   2008 
 
 
 
 
 
Agriculture/Manufacturing    88.2    43.5   118.9     40.8     46.7 
75.2 
 
& Distribution 
 
Information Technology      105.7   17.9        55     58.2   164.5 
257 
 
& Communication 
 
Minerals and Chemicals      30.9      9.8     12.8     11.6 
5.2       2.3 
 
Insurance                             10.7   10.2       0.0 
0.0        0.0       0.0 
 
Tourism                             114.3  114.6   106.7    185.7 
196.9   196.0 
 
Mining                                149.7   57.3   111.6    335.8 
216.6      74.2 
 
Other                                   63.0  170.2     75.9 
118.1     59.3   714.3* 
 
Sub-Total                          562.6  423.6   480.9   750.1 
689.2  1319.0 
 
Retained Earnings             158.1  178.0   201.6   132.1   177.3 
177.5 
 
Divestment                            0.0      0.0        0.0 
0.0        0.0        0.0 
 
TOTAL                               720.7 601.6    682.5  882.2 
866.5  1436.6 
 
 
 
*Includes inflows arising from the acquisition of majority 
shareholdings in a local conglomerate by a Trinidad & Tobago firm. 
 
2008 figures are preliminary 
 
Source:  Bank of Jamaica 
 
 
 
Table 4: Inward FDI as a percentage of GDP (%) 
 
 
 
                                                   2004    2005 
2006    2007   2008 
 
 
 
Agriculture/Manufacturing       0.87     0.39     1.00      0.36 
0.05 
 
& Distribution 
 
Information Technology          1.05     0.16     0.46      1.27 
1.84 
 
& Communication 
 
Minerals and Chemicals         0.31     0.09     0.11      0.04 
0.02 
 
Insurance                                0.11     0.09    0.00 
0.00     0.00 
 
Tourism                                   1.13     1.03    1.56 
1.52      1.40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mining                                     1.48     0.52     2.81 
1.68      0.53 
 
Other                                       1.68     0.68    0.99 
0.46      5.12* 
 
Sub-Total                               5.56     3.81     6.29 
5.33      9.45 
 
Retained Earnings                  1.56     1.60    1.11      1.37 
0.84 
 
Divestment                              0.00     0.00    0.00 
0.00      0.00 
 
TOTAL                                    7.13     5.41    5.72 
6.70    10.29 
 
See notes in Table 3 
 
Source: Computed from BOJ and Statistical Institute of Jamaica data 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5:  FDI Projects Facilitated by Jamaica Promotions by Sector 
(USD Million) 
 
 
 
                                       03/04   04/05   05/06 
06/07   07/08   08/09 
 
 
 
TOTAL              105.8   153.8   233.2   265.7   328.3   431.1 
 
Agriculture                       2.9       6.4       3.0       0.0 
0.0       0.0 
 
Creative Industries      14.2     12.3     15.0       0.0     10.1 
18.1 
 
Info Tech.                       45.9     11.4     64.3     55.7 
50.9   160.1 
 
Manufacturing               31.1       0.0     11.1     38.9 
53.2     65.9 
 
Mining/Chemicals         0.4       4.6     16.0       1.3       5.6 
5.0 
 
Tourism                          11.1   119.2   123.9   169.8 
208.5   160.1 
 
Source:  Jamaica Promotions Agency (JAMPRO) 
 
 
 
Table 6:  FDI Projects Facilitated by JAMPRO by Selected Country of 
Origin, FY 99-07 
 
 
 
Country and Sector           JDOLS Millions 
 
BELGIUM 
 
Tourism                                  100.0 
 
CANADA 
 
Film                                            126.7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information Technology     7,068.2 
 
Manufacturing                        546.3 
 
Mining and Chemical             213.5 
 
CAYMAN ISLAND 
 
Tourism                                   78.2 
 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 
 
Information Technology         276.0 
 
Manufacturing                        284.9 
 
GERMANY 
 
Film                                        131.3 
 
ITALY 
 
Tourism                                   58.3 
 
JAPAN 
 
Film                                         14.2 
 
RUSSIA 
 
Film                                        228.5 
 
SOUTH AFRICA 
 
Manufacturing                          27.2 
 
SPAIN 
 
Tourism                               26,536.0 
 
ST. LUCIA 
 
Manufacturing                             88.6 
 
TAIWAN 
 
Agriculture                              570.4 
 
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 
 
Mineral and Chemical        1,466.8 
 
Manufacturing                       2,327.0 
 
U.S.A. 
 
Agriculture                              182.0 
 
Film                                         1,414.9 
 
Information Technology     13,508.7 
 
Manufacturing                       2,367.0 
 
Mining and Chemicals            674.2 
 
Textiles                                   102.5 
 
Tourism                               6,378.3 
 
UNITED KINGDOM 
 
Film                                        277.9 
 
Information Technology      9,277.1 
 
Manufacturing                    1,842.3 
 
 
 
 
 
Tourism                                 124.1 
 
MULTIPLE OWNERS 
 
Film                                        784.6 
 
Tourism                               1,629.1 
 
Source: JAMPRO (does not capture all new investments) 
 
 
 
Jamaica has a long history of attracting foreign direct investment 
from the United States.  Among the major U.S. investors operating 
in Jamaica are: 
 
 
 
---------- 
 
Accounting 
 
---------- 
 
KPMG Peat Marwick 
 
Price Waterhouse-Coopers 
 
 
 
----------- 
 
Advertising 
 
----------- 
 
Lindo Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) 
 
McCann Erickson (Ja.) Ltd. 
 
 
 
-------------------------- 
 
Agribusiness and Beverages 
 
-------------------------- 
 
ADM Milling Company 
 
Coca Cola Jamaica 
 
Nabisco Brands, Inc. 
 
Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Bottling Plant 
 
Kraft 
 
 
 
----------------- 
 
Banking & Finance 
 
----------------- 
 
Citibank N.A. 
 
 
 
------------------------- 
 
Chemicals/Pharmaceuticals 
 
------------------------- 
 
 
 
 
 
Alkali Group of Companies 
 
Antilles Chemical Co. 
 
Cetco Water Laboratories 
 
Diversey-Lever Jamaica Ltd. 
 
Fabcon (Caribbean) Ltd. 
 
Industrial Gases Ltd. (IGL) 
 
Sherwin Williams W.I. Ltd. 
 
Smithkline Beecham International 
 
 
 
----------------------------- 
 
Computers and Data Processing 
 
----------------------------- 
 
ACS 
 
Data Key Processors Jamaica Ltd. 
 
Fargo Electronics 
 
IBM World Trade Corp. 
 
Jamaica Digiport Int'l Ltd. 
 
Media Track Inc. 
 
Microsoft 
 
New Horizons Learning Centre 
 
Productive Business Solutions Ltd. 
 
Standard Data Systems 
 
 
 
----------------- 
 
Consumer Products 
 
----------------- 
 
Colgate Palmolive 
 
¶F. W. Woolworth & Co. (Ja.) Ltd. 
 
Gillette Caribbean 
 
Johnson & Johnson 
 
KIWI Brands Caribbean Ltd. 
 
Mead Johnson 
 
Meineke 
 
PriceSmart 
 
 
 
--------------- 
 
Courier Service 
 
--------------- 
 
 
EB/IFD/OIA (TWALSH) 
EEB/TRA (VLIMAYE-DAVIS) 
INR/RES (RWARNER) 
INR/I (SMCCORMICK) 
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS 
TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW 
EXPORT IMPORT BANK FOR ANNETTE MARESH 
USTDA FOR NATHAN YOUNG AND PATRICIA ARRIAGADA 
OPIC FOR 
 
FedEx 
 
UPS 
 
International Bonded Couriers 
 
 
 
--------- 
 
Insurance 
 
--------- 
 
American Home Assurance Co. 
 
Blue Cross Shield of Jamaica 
 
 
 
-------------------------- 
 
Manufacturing and Assembly 
 
-------------------------- 
 
Baywind Manufacturing Ltd. 
 
3-M Interamerica Inc. 
 
Custom Marble & Design Jamaica Ltd. 
 
Econ Industries Inc. 
 
Goodyear (distributor) 
 
Hofmann and Leavy Jamaica Ltd. 
 
Jamaica Bow Co. Ltd. 
 
Jockey International Jamaica Ltd. 
 
Johnson & Johnson 
 
Sealy Mattress Company 
 
Singer Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. 
 
Sportswear Producers Ltd. 
 
West Indies Nutritional Corporation Ltd. 
 
Williamson Dickie Jamaica Ltd. 
 
 
 
--------------- 
 
Mining & Energy 
 
--------------- 
 
Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica, Inc. 
 
Jamaica Energy Partners 
 
Jamaica Private Power Company Ltd. 
 
Kaiser Bauxite Company 
 
Texaco Caribbean Inc. 
 
 
 
------------------ 
 
Project Management 
 
 
 
 
 
------------------ 
 
Boyken-Mortimer International LLC 
 
 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
Tourism and Hospitality Industry 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
Air Tran 
 
American Airlines 
 
American Express Int'l Inc. 
 
Atlantic Southeast Airlines 
 
Baskin Robbins 
 
Chester' Chicken 
 
Church's Fried Chicken 
 
Continental Airlines 
 
Delta Airlines 
 
Hertz (Liberty) Car Rental 
 
Hilton (Kingston) Hotel 
 
Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort 
 
Jet Blue 
 
Pizza Hut 
 
Popeye's Chicken and Seafood 
 
Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel 
 
Restaurants Associates Ltd. - Burger King 
 
Restaurants of Jamaica Ltd. - Kentucky Fried Chicken 
 
Ritz Carlton Hotel 
 
Spirit Airlines 
 
Subway (Ja.) Ltd. 
 
TCBY Frozen Yogurt 
 
Wendy's 
 
Wyndham Rose Hall Hotel 
Parnell