Wait, not a word about the presentation

[Lazie]

by the PM yesterday? Where is X? Nothing about the Logistics Hub?

[Bricktop]

What is there to discuss?

[Lazie]

What is there to discuss?

Lets hear from the comrades.

[Bricktop]

Portia is a "Transformer"...a leader in disguise...

[World Fan]

Canada ready to lend expertise on logistics hub development

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...pment_14602604
Canada ready to lend expertise on logistics hub development

BY ARLENE MARTIN-WILKINS Associate Editor — News martina@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

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GOVERNMENT is being urged to tap into Canada's hub of knowledge in supply chain management in its pursuits to develop Jamaica into a global logistics centre.

Canada's High Commissioner to Jamaica Robert Ready says his country — a major trading nation with some of the world's busiest air and sea ports — stands ready to lend its expertise if and when Jamaica calls for assistance to set up the much-touted logistics hub for which the Government is currently seeking investors.

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"We feel that in Canada there are particular areas of expertise for management and logistics and we are seeking to make connections between those areas in Canada and some of the planning that Mr Hylton (minister of industry, investment, and commerce) and the others on the Jamaican side are set out to do," Canadian High Commissioner Robert Ready told journalists at a meeting last week at his residence in Kingston.

"Canada has world-class port facilities and Canadian companies have worked internationally on some of the largest projects in the world," he added, noting that areas of expertise from which Jamaica could benefit include container inspection, port security, revenue collection, and systems to track goods being transported.

Later, in an e-mail response to follow-up questions from the Jamaica Observer, the Canadian High Commission sought to further underscore Canada's distinguished place in global logistics.

"Canada's gateways connect every component of the supply chain: ports, airports, railroads and highways are seamlessly integrated with logistics services, creating a deeply connected transportation system. With excellent highway systems, efficient marine-rail interface with direct loading from vessel to train, outstanding terminal flow and productivity, and scheduled and consistent rail traffic, access to North America (and world markets) is fast and streamlined," the high commission said.

"Sophisticated software programs developed by Canadian companies enable efficiencies in all aspects of supply chain management such as product tracking identification for customs collection or ship movements," the commission said, adding that "the Government of Canada has contributed funding towards the integrated port logistics system and the air gap system".

The logistics hub, which should become operational in 2015 to coincide with the reopening of the Panama Canal, is a multi-dimensional project that will include "clusters of global businesses operating from special economic zones, technology parks, logistics parks and industrial parks", according to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC).

The hub is expected to generate jobs in a range of industries, including logistics; marine and aerospace; information communication technology; dry docking; aeroplane repair and maintenance; apparel; chemicals, food, beverage, hospitality and other fast-moving consumer goods.

Already, the high commission said it is working with Jamaica, through the MIIC and Jampro — the Government's economic development agency — to identify Canadian companies that might have an interest in investing in the logistics hub or establishing a presence in the proposed commercial economic zones.

"These are yet to be fully defined as the logistics' hub initiative is in its early stages, however, we actively promote opportunities to invest in this initiative with a view to increasing commerce between our two countries," the commission said.

Meanwhile, Canada is set to pump Cdn$27 million worth of new funding in Jamaica over the next four years as it seeks to help the country create the conditions to facilitate private-sector driven development.

The programme is part of a wider package announced by Canada's Minister of International Co-operation Julian Fantino early last month at the 19th annual Conference de Montreal earlier this month to help the world's most vulnerable people. A key objective of the programme is also to create jobs for youth "who are at risk of turning to crime".

At the time of the announcement, Minister Fantino emphasised Canada's seriousness in helping Jamaica and other ailing economies in the Caribbean regain stability.

"When we help other countries advance their economies, we also create new partners for Canadian companies. Development is an integral part of our government's efforts to create a prosperous and secure world," Fantino said.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz2Y3h27acq

[World Fan]

"...it’s our people"

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/gover...-logistics-hub
Government urged to prepare for Logistics hub

6:53 pm, Fri August 9, 2013

Dr. Fitz Pinnock

There is need for the government to make adjustments in how persons are trained and also improve business transactions as it moves towards the introduction of the Logistics hub.

Dr. Fitz Pinnock, Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute said if this is not done, the country could end up looking overseas for foreigners to come and fill the jobs that will be created.

“But we definitely want to end up in the case of a Dubai where 70% of the work force for their logistics hub is from outside. This is an area where we need the greatest resource that Jamaica has and we need to focus on it , it is not our coffee, it’s not our bauxite, it’s our people . We need to invest in our people, and realize that the whole approach that got us into the mess that we are - where we are still putting all of our money in oversubscribed areas that nobody wants, we can now start looking into skills sets and how we can invest in those.”

He added that the government should also look at improving its systems for quick time processing, in order to attract investors in shipping.

“This type of global environment will require a one stop shop. Are we prepared for this ? are we prepared for some government agencies to give us some powers to facilitate a business transaction in a day , something that now takes months. These are some hardcore decisions that we need to make because these are they type of things that investors are weary of” he said.

Dr. Pinnock was a guest at the weekly RJR News Forum.

[Willi]

Damn skippy!

[Sir X]

Thank yuh sah , Lazie expect a sudden change in our trajectory ? dis ship has been sinking for a long while.