12 new SEZs under construction – PM

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says 12 new special economic zones (SEZ) are now under construction.

Holness, who made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2021-22 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on March 18, said the SEZs, which span a variety of industries, total 1.1 million square feet of new space.

“Business confidence in the SEZ model, which was established as an economic stimulus strategy, continues to grow, with heightened local and foreign investor interest in a wide cross section of traditional, as well as new and emerging industries,” he said.

The prime minister noted that the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) is currently in discussions with a number of prospective investors, who are at different stages of their projects. These include educational, medical/pharmaceutical, film, petrochemical and other commercial industries.

At the end of March 2020, 98 per cent, or 131, of a total of 134 approved free zone entities had transitioned to the new SEZ regime.

This number, together with the 52 new SEZ developers who entered into licensing agreements with the JSEZA, brought the complement of SEZ entities to 183 – representing a growth trajectory of 30 per cent under the new regime.

Holness said the SEZs are spread across 11 parishes, with the aim of stimulating development of commercial and logistical infrastructure to catalyse economic growth.

“Jamaica’s SEZs embrace a range of services, including training, incubation space, warehousing and distribution, logistics, manufacturing, assembly, and production facilities,” he stated.

He further said that the regime currently boasts 26.6 million square feet of designated SEZ space.