Finance Minister Hails JSE Micro Market as Major Boost for Small Business Capital Access

Hon. Fayval Williams, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, has characterised the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Micro Market as a landmark opening for the nation's micro and small enterprise community.

The platform was officially introduced on June 23, 2026, after months of coordinated planning, technical preparation, and partnership work involving the JSE and allied institutions.

"By lowering barriers to capital, equipping businesses with the tools and knowledge to participate in formal markets and building a robust pipeline of market-ready issuers, this initiative positions Jamaica as a regional leader in MSME (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises) financial empowerment," Mrs. Williams said.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 7, the Minister outlined the capital window available to firms that list on the micro market. Eligible companies may raise between $50 million and $100 million. Each listing must have a minimum of 50 shareholders, including the sponsor, and at least 20 per cent of ownership must be held by the public.

Mrs. Williams said arrangements are in place to permit micro entities linked to companies already on the junior or main market to seek listings. "Provisions will be made to allow the listing of micro entities who are associated with junior and main market companies as a necessary provision to promote the role of sponsors in building stronger supply chains and facilitating wider participation in the formal economy by MSMEs," she said.

She also set out the compliance framework for micro market participants. "Micro market entities will be required to have an audit committee. Micro market entities will be required to file semi-annual unaudited statements within 60 days, 12 months audited statements within 90 days, and annual reports within 120 days of the year end. Micro entities will be required to transition to the Junior market once they reach a capital threshold of the $100 million," Mrs. Williams added.

The Minister further reported that 25 businesses that completed the Jamaica Business Development Corporation's accelerator programme have been earmarked as leading prospects for the micro market. She said those firms have already shown the operational discipline and growth capacity needed to enter formal capital markets.