Jamaican manufacturers press resilience, technology at Manufacture 360 conference

Jamaica’s manufacturers and exporters placed resilience, technology and access to capital at the centre of discussion during the third staging of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association’s Manufacture 360 conference, held under the theme “Robust Recovery for Resilient Growth.”

The forum examined pressures shaping local manufacturing after the super hurricane period, with industry voices saying Hurricane Melissa exposed vulnerabilities that must now be addressed. JMEA President Katherine Syla said the storm did more than harm factory operations, pointing also to business continuity weaknesses, brittle supply chains, gaps in insurance coverage and financing arrangements that do not support members adequately in a crisis.

Syla also urged manufacturers to think beyond Jamaica’s borders as they plan for future climate shocks. She said parts of the manufacturing base should be extended into CARICOM so that a major weather event in one territory does not stop production across the wider region.

Senator Orin Hill of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce said the next phase of manufacturing will depend heavily on technology. He said the companies best positioned for the coming decade are already investing in digital and AI-driven systems to move away from manual processes and track real efficiency improvements.

Minister Matthew Samuda pointed to planned financing to support resilience and climate-focused development. He said the Government intends to launch a blue-green fund within 12 months, to be housed at the Development Bank of Jamaica, with backing from multilateral partners and the Green Climate Fund. The facility, he said, is expected to unlock about US$200 million in projects tied to mitigation targets.

Manufacturers were also reminded of existing productive input reliefs for companies upgrading their operations. According to the report, duty relief amounting to J$82.2 billion is available and could be used by more firms.

Gary “Butch” Hendrickson, chairman of Continental Baking Company, said technology is now essential for Jamaican-made goods to remain competitive. Chall Johnson Cunningham, CEO of Sajakor Bank Jamaica, also called for a longer-term view of recovery, urging a more resilient, self-sufficient, innovative and partnership-driven country.