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BY PATRICK FOSTER Observer writer fosterp@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, September 24, 2009
GOVERNMENT'S ambitious plan to convert approximately 500 acres of the Caymanas lands in St Catherine into a multi-purpose, industrial park has picked up momentum with 100 acres now fully subscribed.
According to Industry and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda, local businesses have taken up the first 100 acres of the project and an additional 100 acres are now being sought from the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), owners of the property.
"We are negotiating with the UDC for an additional 100 acres because already the first 100 have been fully subscribed in terms of expressions of interest," Samuda said.
He was speaking yesterday at a luncheon hosted by Chairman of the Observer Gordon 'Butch' Stewart at the newspaper's head office on Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.
Samuda disclosed that the first 100 acres at the Caymanas development were reserved for local businesses and a further 50 acres dedicated to the establishment of an information communications technologies (ICT) zone.
"We are hoping that we will see the commencement of the development of those lands that will be not only with local business (but also) 50 acres dedicated to the ICT sector," Samuda said. He did not say when construction would commence.
The Caymanas project was viewed with some scepticism when it was first announced shortly after the new administration took office just more than two years ago. But yesterday Samuda announced that it was well advanced with heavy demand, especially for the ICT sector.
"We actually have a demand of over 500,000 square feet of space for ICT sector and we don't have the capacity to deal with it," Samuda told the luncheon, which was attended by Prime Minister Bruce Golding and a number of the country's top business leaders.
The commerce minister's concept is to house a mix of businesses at the Caymanas site - located at the end of the Highway 2000 - that includes freezone assembly plants, light manufacturing facilities and warehousing.
Space owned by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, Samuda explained, was not adequate to accommodate ICT outfits.
"I thought we would be able to sell some of our factories that we have under the Factories Corporation," said Minister Samuda.
But he said: "Apparently it is structurally incompatible with the ICT sector and would cost too much to retrofit so we have to build new structures."
The industry and commerce minister also announced that construction of 200,000 square feet of space will be added at Naggo Head in St Catherine to expand accommodation for ICT companies in the area.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...S___SAMUDA.asp
Thursday, September 24, 2009
GOVERNMENT'S ambitious plan to convert approximately 500 acres of the Caymanas lands in St Catherine into a multi-purpose, industrial park has picked up momentum with 100 acres now fully subscribed.
According to Industry and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda, local businesses have taken up the first 100 acres of the project and an additional 100 acres are now being sought from the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), owners of the property.
"We are negotiating with the UDC for an additional 100 acres because already the first 100 have been fully subscribed in terms of expressions of interest," Samuda said.
He was speaking yesterday at a luncheon hosted by Chairman of the Observer Gordon 'Butch' Stewart at the newspaper's head office on Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.
Samuda disclosed that the first 100 acres at the Caymanas development were reserved for local businesses and a further 50 acres dedicated to the establishment of an information communications technologies (ICT) zone.
"We are hoping that we will see the commencement of the development of those lands that will be not only with local business (but also) 50 acres dedicated to the ICT sector," Samuda said. He did not say when construction would commence.
The Caymanas project was viewed with some scepticism when it was first announced shortly after the new administration took office just more than two years ago. But yesterday Samuda announced that it was well advanced with heavy demand, especially for the ICT sector.
"We actually have a demand of over 500,000 square feet of space for ICT sector and we don't have the capacity to deal with it," Samuda told the luncheon, which was attended by Prime Minister Bruce Golding and a number of the country's top business leaders.
The commerce minister's concept is to house a mix of businesses at the Caymanas site - located at the end of the Highway 2000 - that includes freezone assembly plants, light manufacturing facilities and warehousing.
Space owned by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica, Samuda explained, was not adequate to accommodate ICT outfits.
"I thought we would be able to sell some of our factories that we have under the Factories Corporation," said Minister Samuda.
But he said: "Apparently it is structurally incompatible with the ICT sector and would cost too much to retrofit so we have to build new structures."
The industry and commerce minister also announced that construction of 200,000 square feet of space will be added at Naggo Head in St Catherine to expand accommodation for ICT companies in the area.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...S___SAMUDA.asp