This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 15 KINGSTON 000176 
 
SIPDIS 
 
state for wha/car, wha/epsc, and eb/ifd/oia 
 
state pass ustr/cwilson 
 
state pass to opic 
 
eximbank - jcarriger 
 
treasury for oasia 
 
usdoc for 4322/ita/iep/wh/omcb 
 
santo domingo for fcs and fas 
 
san jose for environmental hub - dalarid 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: 
SUBJECT:  INVESTMENT CLIMATE - JAMAICA 2005 
 
Provided below is Embassy Kingston's Investment 
Climate Report for 2005. 
 
A.1.  Openness to Foreign Investment 
 
The GOJ encourages foreign investment as a source of 
development and has no policies or regulations that 
reserve areas exclusively to Jamaicans.  According to 
the country's Trade Policy Review of September 1998 " 
. . . a liberal foreign investment regime has been 
implemented representing great strides over the last 
twenty years when the climate for foreign investment 
was very restrictive.  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. 
Consequently, Jamaica now has no 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 to remove some of the obstacles to doing 
business in Jamaica.  This process is paying 
dividends, as a 2004 World Bank study listed Jamaica 
in the top ten countries in which it was easiest to do 
business.  Jamaica ranked well 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 Jamaica's 
Redundancy Act does make it expensive to fire an 
employee, but the Jamaican system still ranks higher 
than its regional peers.  The 2005 report, which takes 
the procedures for registering property and protecting 
investors into account, does not place Jamaica in the 
top ten. 
 
The Companies Act and the Securities Acts, if the 
company is publicly traded, govern acquisitions, 
mergers and takeovers.  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 the rules in relation to the 
enforceability of contracts are based thereupon.  The 
Jamaican judicial system therefore recognizes and 
upholds the sanctity of contracts.  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 and 
mining are subjected to some restrictions. 
 
Jamaica's privatization program is fully open to 
participation by foreign investors, except for those 
that are on the restricted list.  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 generally placed in newspapers such 
as the Financial Times, the New York Times and the 
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.  In the 
last five years foreign investors have won the major 
privatization bids. 
 
Jamaica 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, 
set to come 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 investment averaged USD 530 million per annum 
between 1998 and 2003.  In 2003 Jamaica attracted USD 
720.4 million in FDI, the highest amount in any given 
year.  The telecommunications, construction, tourism 
and financial sectors accounted for most of these 
inflows.  The introduction of competition in the 
telecoms sector has attracted four mobile providers 
and over USD 160 million in investments per year since 
¶1999.  This could increase by a further USD 100 
million as the GOJ is issuing 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 model.  Phase one of the 
project, which is expected to cost over USD 400 
million is already underway. 
 
Policies have been geared toward achieving further 
diversification and growth in the bauxite, tourism and 
energy sectors.  The GOJ has dismantled the old 
bauxite levy system on a company-by-company basis, 
leading to a USD 13 million expansion by one company. 
Another company has announced a USD 690 million 
expansion plan, slated to begin in 2005.  Tourist 
attractions have also been granted similar benefits to 
accommodations, leading to increased investment.  Over 
the next three years the accommodations sector is 
slated to receive over USD 2 billion in investment 
from three Spanish hotel chains as well as from 
foreigners investing in the proposed high-end Harmony 
Cove Development.  The GOJ has also entered into 
agreements with Trinidad and Tobago to set up a LNG 
plant at a cost of USD 240 million and with a 
Brazilian company to rehabilitate an ethanol-producing 
plant at a cost of USD 8 million. 
 
A.2.  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. 
 
A.3.  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 in this case 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 to 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. 
 
A.4.  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 finally to the Judicial 
Committee of the Privy Council in the UK.  However, 
the Privy Council could 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. 
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. 
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 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 soon to be implemented 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. 
 
A.5.  Performance Requirements/Incentives 
 
Jamaica is a signatory to the WTO 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 incentives are non-compliant with the WTO 
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and 
should have been phased out by 2003.  However, Jamaica 
was granted an extension by the WTO to revise its 
incentives and the GOJ 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 10 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.  Under existing regulations 
business visas are required by persons entering the 
island to conduct business. However, this regulation 
is being revised to remove this requirement. 
 
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, Jamaica imposed the 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 generally characterized, as 
relatively open, but some non-tariff barriers remain. 
For instance, the Veterinary Division requires 
certification from a US 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 tend to experience lengthy 
delays in obtaining these permits. 
 
A.6.  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 does not distort the market. 
 
A.7.  Protection of Property Rights 
 
The Jamaican Constitution guarantees property rights. 
Jamaica has a system of registered title 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.  Jamaica is a member of the World Intellectual 
Property Organization and is a signatory of the Bern 
Convention.  Jamaica and the US 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 TRIPS compliant. 
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.  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.  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. 
 
A.8.  Transparency of the 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 tax, labor, health, and other laws and 
policies 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.  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, the time 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.  The 
private sector, GOJ and USAID have also joined forces 
to implement a project to identify and deal with key 
legislation, regulations and processes that constrain 
business. 
 
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 legislations are available for public comment 
and submissions are generally invited from members of 
the public for proposed legislation 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. 
 
A.9.  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 now 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 2004, the country's three 
largest banks had total assets amounting to over USD 
4.9 billion or 85 percent of the entire assets of 
commercial banks.  During the mid-1990s there was a 
meltdown in the financial sector, but since 1998 there 
has been consolidation and increased output 
performance in the sector.  The non-performing loans 
portfolio as a percentage of the total asset base has 
moved from seven percent in 2000 to 1 percent at the 
end of September 2004.  Since the financial sector 
crisis, significant strides have also been made in 
terms of the regulatory framework, which are now in 
line with international standards. 
 
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.  However, two listed companies have clauses 
within their memoranda and articles of association, 
which 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 foreign 
hostile takeovers. 
 
A.10.  Political Violence 
 
Jamaica has had no incidents involving politically 
motivated damage to projects and/or installations. 
Crime poses a greater threat to foreign investments 
than do politically motivated activities.  The country 
did, however, experience three days of island-wide 
rioting ("gas riots) in April 1999 when the government 
raised taxes on petroleum products.  There was also 
sporadic violence for a few days in July 2001 in 
response to what was perceived as "heavy-handed" 
police incursions into two Kingston neighborhoods 
considered loyal to the opposition Jamaica Labor 
Party.  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 problem in certain areas of the 
commercial district and on large construction projects 
- such as the highway project. 
 
A.11.a.  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. 
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 members of the public 
perceive the law to be applied impartially among 
locals. 
 
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, working with Dr. Trevor 
Munroe of the University of the West Indies. TI's 
report identifies widespread political, petty, and 
narcotics-related corruption as being prevalent in 
Jamaica. 
 
Under the Corruption Prevention Act (CPA) it is an 
offence either to give 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.  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 execute fully its mandate of 
enforcing asset declarations. 
 
There is no indication that bribes can be deducted 
from taxes.  The Act 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. 
 
b.  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 US, 
Canada, CARICOM, China, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, 
Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom. 
 
c.  OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs 
 
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has 
identified infrastructure, housing, agriculture, and 
energy as areas where its programs can have a 
significant impact in Jamaica.  OPIC political risk 
insurance can insure up to USD 40 million per project 
and has no minimum investment size requirement. 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 is currently providing USD 
190 million in insurance and financing support for 
five projects in Jamaica in the telecommunications, 
tourism and energy sectors.  The country became a 
signatory to the Multilateral Investment Guarantee 
Agency in 1986 and ratified the agreement in 1987. 
 
Following an 18.9 percent nominal depreciation in the 
local currency during 2003 the market returned to 
relative stability in 2004.  This stability was 
underpinned by increased foreign exchange stemming 
from, among other things, higher loan receipts, 
improved tourism and remittances flow, higher foreign 
investment and an improvement in the current account, 
which contributed to a build up in the stock of Net 
International Reserves (NIR).  This allowed the Bank 
of Jamaica to intervene in the market to shore up 
supply.  The stability has continued into 2005 and 
provided the GOJ meets it fiscal deficit target and 
there are no major domestic or international shocks 
the exchange rate should remain relatively stable in 
¶2005. 
 
d.  Labor 
 
Jamaica had an estimated labor force of 1.1 million in 2003 
of which 13.1 percent was unemployed.  Since 1999 there has 
been a steady supply of people trained in information 
technology particularly for call centers but most of these 
workers have been absorbed by the growing call center 
business.  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 2003, a 
total of 3,843 permits were issued, up 23.1 percent. 
 
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 
has traditionally been the case in Jamaica.  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) launched in April 2002.  There is also 
a memorandum of understanding on labor arrangements between 
unions and employers in the bauxite industry and the GOJ and 
unions for public sector workers.  Notwithstanding, there 
were 130 disputes, up 15 percent, reported to the Ministry of 
Labor in 2003, 29 of which resulted in work stoppages. 
 
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 will be 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. 
 
e.  Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports 
 
Jamaica's Free Zones Act allows investors to operate 
solely with foreign exchange in activities such as 
warehousing, redistribution, manufacturing, refining, 
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: 
 
Mr. Claude Fletcher, General Manager, Kingston and Montego 
Bay Free Zones, 65 Caracas Avenue, Kingston 15, Tel: (876) 
923-5274/6021; Fax: (876) 923-6023. 1 Mango Way, Montego Free 
Port, P.O. Box 1377, Montego Bay, Tel:(876) 979 8092; Fax 
(876) 979 8088; Email: cfletcher@portjam.com 
Mr. Glenroy W. Mellish, Managing Director, Garmex, 1 King St. 
Kingston, Tel: 876 924 9600 -1; Fax: 876 924 9630; Email: 
factories@cwjamaica.com 
 
 
f.  Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
 
Table 1:  FDI Stock in Jamaica (USD Million) 
 
         1990     1995     2000     2001    2002 
Inward   791      1,568    3,318    4,040   4,409 
Outward    5         42      709      798     872 
 
Source:  World Investment Report, 2003 
 
Table 2:  FDI Stock as a Percent of GDP 
 
         1990     1995     2000    2001    2002 
Inward   18.7     32.3     44.8    50.5    56.7 
Outward   1.0      6.3      9.6    10.3    11.2 
 
Source:  World Investment Report, 2003 
 
Table 3:  Inward FDI (USD Million) 
 
                   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003 
 
Direct Investment  524    469    614    479    721 
Bauxite Sector      68     98     84    108    150 
JAMPRO             102    136    110     79    201 
Ret. Earnings       87    116    116    162    158 
Divestment         177     41    234     84      0 
Other               90     79     71     46    212 
 
Source:  Bank of Jamaica 
 
Table 4: Inward FDI as a percentage of GDP 
 
                  1999   2000   2001   2002   2003 
Direct Investment 7.9    6.9    8.7    6.6    9.5 
  Bauxite Sector  1.0    1.4    1.2    1.5    2.0 
  JAMPRO          1.5    2.0    1.6    1.1    2.6 
  Ret. Earnings   1.3    1.7    1.6    2.2    2.1 
  Divestment      2.7    0.6    3.3    1.1    0.0 
  Other           1.3    1.2    1.0    0.6    2.8 
 
Source:  Bank of Jamaica 
 
Table 5:  FDI Projects Facilitated by Jamaica 
Promotions by Sector (USD Million) 
 
                   98/99 99/00  00/01  01/02  02/03 
TOTAL              72.0  116.8  457.7  289.2  462.7 
Agriculture         6.1    0.6    0.0    0.0    5.6 
Film                2.7    4.3    8.7    9.8    9.4 
Information Tech.   1.8   10.8  206.1  186.0  277.0 
Manufacturing      16.0   38.6   31.1   56.5   85.6 
Mining & Chemicals  3.2   12.9   33.1    0.4   30.4 
Music               0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0 
Tourism            42.2   49.5  178.7   36.5   54.6 
 
Source:  Jamaica Promotions Agency (JAMPRO) 
 
Table 6:  FDI Projects Facilitated by JAMPRO by Country of 
Origin, FY 1999 - 2002 (USD Million) 
Country and Sector                Capital Investment 
                                  JDOLS Millions 
CANADA 
   Film                           10.2 
   Information Technology         50.0 
   Mining and Chemical           213.5 
CAYMAN ISLAND 
   Tourism                        78.2 
GERMANY 
   Film                           55.9 
ITALY 
   Film                            1.2 
   Tourism                        46.5 
JAPAN 
   Film                            3.7 
RUSSIA 
   Film                          227.5 
SOUTH AFRICA 
   Film                            0.8 
   Manufacturing                  27.2 
U.S.A. 
   Film                          400.0 
   Information Technology       7431.8 
   Manufacturing                2125.2 
   Mining and Chemicals          312.2 
   Textiles                      102.5 
   Tourism                      4471.3 
UNITED KINGDOM 
   Film                           75.0 
   Information Technology          2.5 
   Manufacturing                  15.0 
OTHER EUROPE 
   Agriculture                     1.0 
   Film                           11.6 
MULTIPLE OWNERS 
   Film                           19.8 
   Tourism                      1723.7 
Source: JAMPRO (does not capture all new investments) 
 
Jamaica has a record of partnership with various 
foreign investors in the development of a wide range 
of productive industries.  Among the major US 
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 
Cifuentes y Cia 
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 
-----------------------[----- 
Data Key Processors Jamaica Ltd. 
IBM World Trade Corp. 
Jamaica Digiport Int'l Ltd. 
Media Track Inc. 
Microsoft 
New Horizons Learning Centre 
Oceanic Digital Jamaica Ltd. 
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. 
Mean Johnson 
Meineke 
PriceSmart 
Rooms-to-Go 
 
--------------- 
Courier Service 
--------------- 
DHL 
Federal Express 
UPS 
International Bonded Couriers 
 
--------- 
Insurance 
--------- 
American Home Assurance Co. 
Blue Cross Shield of Jamaica 
 
-------------------------- 
Manufacturing and Assembly 
-------------------------- 
3-M Interamerica Inc. 
Custom Marble & Design Jamaica Ltd. 
Econ Industries Inc. 
Goodyear Jamaica Ltd. (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. 
Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART) 
Esso Standard Oils S.A. Ltd. 
Jamaica Energy Partners 
Jamaica Private Power Company Ltd. 
Kaiser Bauxite Company 
Mirant Corp. 
Texaco Caribbean Inc. 
 
------------------ 
Project Management 
------------------ 
Boyken-Mortimer International LLC 
 
-------------------------------- 
Tourism and Hospitality Industry 
-------------------------------- 
American Airlines 
American Express Int'l Inc. 
Churches Fried Chicken 
Hertz (Liberty) Car Rental 
Hilton (Kingston) Hotel 
Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort 
Kenny Rogers Roasters Chicken 
McDonalds of Jamaica 
Northwest Airlines, Inc. 
Pizza Hut 
Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel 
Restaurants Associates Ltd. - Burger King 
Restaurants of Jamaica Ltd. - Kentucky Fried Chicken 
Ritz Carlton Hotel 
Subway (Ja.) Ltd. 
Wendy's 
Wyndham Rose Hall Hotel 
 
END TEXT. 
 
TIGHE