PSOJ

The next Olympics will be staged in London in 2012, and this presents an unprecedented opportunity to promote Jamaican goods and services in the UK to an international audience, and particularly to Jamaica’s main trading partners. 

The Trade Policy Committee held a seminar in Montego Bay on April 22, 2010, in collaboration with the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaica National Building Society, which looked at improving the linkages between tourism and local business, specifically with agriculture.  The Ministers of Tourism and Agriculture spoke at this event.

Jamaica has experienced a consistent trade deficit with her major trading partners in CARICOM, while exporters have complained about non-tariff barriers to market access in the region.  There has also been limited collaboration among private sector associations in the region as part of the regional integration effort.  Consequently, the PSOJ has secured funding from the Caribbean Development Bank to undertake various initiatives to address some of these concerns.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has been looking at issues relating to energy and the environment in light of the critical impact on competitiveness.

A study tour of Colombia’s national competitiveness programme, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, was undertaken by representatives of The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica; the Jamaica Exporters’ Association; the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association and government ministries and agencies in March 2010.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has been looking at issues relating to energy in light of the critical impact on competitiveness.  The PSOJ believes that energy efficiency has to be improved, because of the adverse effects on Jamaica's balance of payments.  Oil is consuming an increasing percentage of the country's earnings - oil and petroleum products imports accounted for over 30 percent of the total value of imports and over 100 percent of total export earnings in 2008.

The Fifth Summit of the Americas is being in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from April 17 to 19.  This will be the first opportunity for Caribbean heads of government to meet with the new American president, Barack Obama.

The EPA is more than a trade agreement, it will impact many aspects of the lives of Caribbean peoples.

This Analytical Note describes the process that led to the conclusion, in the last hours of 2007, of interim EPAs between the EU and 20 ACP countries as well as of a comprehensive EPA with the 15 CARIFORUM states. It overviews the contents of these agreements and comments on some elements related to their consistency with WTO rules. On each topic, the note highlights the developmental implications of the texts that have been initialled. Finally, it overviews some of the main challenges that ACP governments face now in the EPA negotiations and provides suggestions regarding strategic options for the way forward.

How Europe should bring development into its trade deals with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries?

In developing countries, government procurement is a very important component of the economy, constituting between 10 and 20 per cent of GDP. The government's ability to purchase goods and services can be an important developmental tool; for example, in directing expenditure at locally produced goods and at local or domestic companies.

Where do we stand?

Review of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement and an assessment of the opportunities for market access.