Jamaica could benefit from British logistics hub expertise

The Government could benefit from British expertise and financing in its development of Jamaica’s multi-million dollar logistics hub initiative.



Britain’s Minister with responsibility for the Caribbean, Mark Simmonds, who is on a two-day visit to Jamaica, told journalists in Kingston yesterday that his country has significant expertise in the construction, ongoing management, as well as the financing of these large development projects.



Speaking at a media briefing at the British High Commission in New Kingston, Simmonds said port development, one element of the logistics hub initiative, was a significant topic in his discussions with government officials.



“We are thinking about which United Kingdom businesses might be interested in assisting with that when the plans have reached a certain stage. That’s something the High Commissioner (to Jamaica, David Fitton) will be following up, and I will be too, when I get back to the United Kingdom,” a release quoted him as saying.



Simmonds described the Jamaican government’s efforts to “diversify the economy,” through undertakings such as the logistics hub initiative, as “very exciting.”



This focus, he said, will generate sustainable jobs, “particularly using the very important geographical location that Jamaica is in, as potentially a hub for the transit of goods throughout the region.”



Simmonds leaves the island today.



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