On Friday this week ground will be broken for a new warehousing project at Marcus Garvey Drive in St Andrew.

Kingston Gateway, as it is named, is a venture between SAJE Logistics Infrastructure Limited and Proven Properties, the real estate development arm of Proven Group Limited.

The 112,00-square-foot complex, we are told, sits on approximately four acres and will comprise 21 units, each with two floors.

The builders have described it as a “state-of-the-art warehouse complex serving the growing logistics sector”.

That this sector is experiencing significant growth globally is not in doubt. The numbers published by different research entities, while showing slight differences, are nonetheless staggering.

Straits Research, for instance, states that the global warehousing and storage services market was valued at US$536.26 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow from US$569.35 billion this year, then to US$919.17 billion by 2033 — a compound annual growth rate of 6.17 per cent.

According to researchers, various factors, including e-commerce expansion and increasing globalisation and supply chain complexity are driving the growth of this sector. Additionally, technological advancements in the sector have provided significant growth opportunities.

Jamaica, we believe, should not lose the opportunity to benefit from that growth. In fact, that belief has been voiced by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness who, to his credit, has been focusing Jamaica’s attention on this sector, pushing the development of facilities, such as the Kingston Logistics Park.

We recall very well that in 2022, when he officially opened Kingston Logistics Park, Mr Holness described the development as a “big deal and big step” in cementing Jamaica as an important logistics node. Additionally, he said the opening of the park “signals our belief in our ability to catalyse the rapidly growing logistics sector”.

Readers will recall that Kingston Logistics Park incorporates 18,000 square metres of warehouse space and falls under the wider Logistics Hub Initiative designed to position Jamaica as a global destination in cargo trans-shipment and logistics services.

The park includes a border protection centre, which houses Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) and the Container Security Initiative, a collaboration between the JCA and the United States Government.

We are therefore not surprised that the developers of Kingston Gateway saw it appropriate to invite Mr Holness to give the main address at Friday’s event as he has demonstrated a deep knowledge of, and appreciation for the warehousing and logistics sector and the tremendous economic benefits it holds for Jamaica.

We hope that in his address he will outline further Government strategies to attract more investment in the warehouse and logistics sector in keeping with his declared intention to see Jamaica develop as a premier international logistics hub, especially given global supply chain changes and nearshoring opportunities.

Exploring and taking advantage of such potential for increased trade can never be too much.

Kudos to the developers of Kingston Gateway.