KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has joined with German and local investors in ushering a new industry into the local economy with the launch of German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) Limited on Thursday.

Holness said the Jamaican-German company, which started operations last week, aligns with the government’s vision of making Jamaica a logistics-centre economy, and expressed a commitment to accelerate the achievement of that goal.

He pledged support for the entity, which has established a relationship with the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), to provide personnel trained in ship-repair services.

“We support business and I am here to say to our German partners that we want more of your business. The government stands prepared to create the environment that your business can flourish to employ more Jamaicans, that you can make a profit, and that Jamaica can benefit and develop from that,” the prime minister said.

He was speaking at the launch reception held aboard the expedition yacht Hanse Explorer, at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard Marina in Port Royal.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, said the launch of the company is a “glorious occasion” for the government, as it demonstrates the rationale behind the prime minister’s decision to create a growth ministry.

He noted that the conglomeration of all the relevant agencies and departments under the one ministry facilitated the fast-tracking of processes that enabled the start-up of the ship-repair company. This, he noted, is in line with the government’s push for the public sector to be efficient in its support of private-sector investment.

“This is what we are about. A maritime hub has to be an important ingredient of our economic growth agenda and, therefore, this is a perfect fit at the perfect time. I congratulate you and your partners and thank you for your confidence in Jamaica,” Vaz said.

GRSJ Limited is owned by H&P Caribbean Maritime Services Ltd, Jamaica Dry Dock Ltd, and German technical shipping supplier Kloska Technik GmbH.

The company started operations with wet repairs services, which involves working on vessels while they are afloat. This will continue over the next year, while the company awaits permission for the development of a dockyard at Kingston Harbour.

The dockyard is expected to accommodate local coastal patrol vessels, government-operated and commercial craft, as well as international vessels calling or passing Jamaica that requires repair services.

Over the past years, the Port of Kingston has had more than 2,000 calls per year by 400 vessels, which are frequently in need of repairs or servicing to meet standards for international certification.