Strengthen Jamaica’s potential as a logistics hub

THE EDITOR, Madam:

It is due time Jamaica strengthens its potential with the alignment of its transport system to the strategic fit of our role in logistics hub. Mobility is at the heart of global trading; the movement of people, freight and information is critical for economies, especially a developing one such as Jamaica that is dependent on successful trading with developed nations.

Jamaica lies within the North Atlantic hurricane belt and is the third most exposed country in the world to multiple natural hazards; hence, we are a country that is vulnerable to weather conditions based on our strategic location. Yet, our public and private transportation systems’ impact on our logistics is yet to measure up globally.

WHY A STRATEGIC FIT?

The present global challenges impact countries internationally, specifically major global health issues, food security, climate crisis, political wars, government trading policies, among others that are all inter-connected.

With inter-dependence on global partners with established trading agreements and treaties, Jamaica needs to tighten up and streamline its strategic fit to include a dynamic transportation framework in its supply chain, as it is the backbone of logistics in sustaining the country in international trade and commerce, both internal and external.

‘Strategic fit’ is simply ensuring that your competitive strategies and supply chain strategies are aligned with the same goals and objectives. Therefore, Jamaica should start with ensuring that its transportation policy remains dynamic with the required technology across all modal transportation infrastructures, which will streamline it with international partners to remain competitive.

A COHESIVE LOGISTICS HUB

Jamaica should be seen, appropriately, as a national, cohesive logistics hub, one that isn’t just tied to specific geographic areas, but rather, one that mobilises and utilises its potential as a country strategically positioned between North, South and Central America, and directly north of the Panama Canal as a regional trans-shipment port.

With that being said, it should be noted that not all areas will be included nationally but key areas, with the focus on potential optimisation of its natural endowments.

Jamaica’s logistics include maritime, aviation, manufacturing and distribution, data and Internet exchange points, financial sector and internal logistics, including land transport.

Equally important, Jamaica should engage the public and private sectors on broadening their knowledge on how a logistics hub works and, consequently, tapping into all opportunities, thus strengthening the moving parts of our supply chain.

Furthermore, we should integrate emerging technology in our maritime and aviation business processes that analyze historical data to provide snippets of impending trends and shifts, nationally and globally, with the possibility of enduring any adverse changes as is presently being experienced globally.

Moreover, the Jamaican government should ensure that their regulatory policies, including transport, create synergies in our local industry clusters. This will provide institutions with access to information that allows businesses to stimulate real-time mechanisms within their operations on quickening outbound of materials to consumers, giving the businesses the ability to provide consistency to consumers.

Particularly that logistics hub is both vertical and horizontal; hence, businesses within the national supply chain would synchronise their goals, integrating with other related businesses or take control competitively of suppliers or distribution outlets, as need be.

In effect, businesses’ competitive goals that are in harmony with supply chain goals would result in a strategic fit, connecting people, businesses, and accesses to new markets.

MOBILITY ENSURES A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY

For Jamaica, mobility means economic development when it connects all moving parts, whilst manoeuvring rapid changes and overcoming challenges, especially since we are a dispersed population across rural and urban areas. Especially for our vulnerable communities, it’s critical for social development that connects access to education, healthcare and all essential services, and, importantly, to environmental sustainability, whereby emphasis is placed on protecting the environment.

A mobile country is a competitive economy that understands that logistics and a dynamic transportation system provides the foothold to connecting people and businesses, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Consequently, we should ensure Jamaica’s logistics framework has a successful strategic fit by tailoring our supply chain design by engaging and fostering a dynamic business environment predicated on our capabilities: trainable human resources and attractive geographic proximity.

In essence, a country’s supply chain logistics are a complex sequence of coordinated activities, especially since such overall performance depends on all aspects aligning.

ROSALEE CLARKE

Student - MSc Logistics and

Supply Chain Management