KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 200 Jamaicans, including members of the Diaspora, benefitted from a one-day logistics symposium held on Saturday at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

“Becoming a Global Logistics Gateway: Opportunities for Jamaica Businesses’ was hosted by the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM), in partnership with the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), and the Jamaica Logistics Task Force.

The event was sponsored by C&W Business, Sutherland Global and the Shipping Association of Jamaica.

Against the background of the recent completion of the Panama Canal expansion and Jamaica’s readiness for a logistics hub, the event was organised to highlight opportunities for local businesses in the manufacturing, transportation and services industries.

The plenary session featured Dr Paul Kent, senior vice president at Nathan Associates, a consulting firm which was contracted to prepare a ‘Master Plan and Industry Analysis for the Global Logistics Hub Initiative’.

Dr Kent spoke on ‘Building a Global Logistics Hub: Can Jamaica Bolt into the Foray?”.

According to Dr Kent, Jamaica can become the global logistics gateway interconnecting the Americas to the world, given the Panama Canal’s proximity to Jamaica and the country’s strategic position to facilitate easy access to North and South America, as well as Asia and Europe.

Thematic Panel Discussions  moderated by Dr Fritz Pinnock, executive director, Caribbean Maritime Institute included presentations from Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boss Furniture Company Limited  and Past President of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association, Omar Azan; CEO, Kingston Wharves Limited, Grantley Stephenson; Director and CEO of German Ship Repair, Peter Kisslinger; and  Senior Director of Commercial Development and Planning at the Airports Authority of Jamaica/NMIA Airports Limited, Alfred McDonald.

Balford Henry