AS one of Jamaica’s oldest business institutions, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) has evolved from a merchants’ collective formed in 1776 into a modern advocacy group serving enterprises of all sizes, from micro-businesses to multinational corporations. Over its nearly 250-year history the JCC has played a defining role in shaping economic dialogue, influencing policy, and providing a shared platform where small businesses and corporate giants engage as equals.

“It was really about advocating for the business community and ensuring that it was treated fairly and that there was knowledge insight shared amongst each other,” president, Philip Ramson, told the Jamaica Observer in an interview.

The JCC’s formation in the late 18th century was rooted in the need for strength in numbers. In an era where communication was slow and advocacy channels limited, businesses banded together to learn from each other, exchange insight, and lobby for fair treatment under the British colonial administration. According to Ramson, the original pillars of knowledge sharing, networking, and advocacy remain central to the Chamber’s mission.

By the early 1960s, the Chamber’s leadership included influential figures such as Ramson’s grandfather, who served as president in 1962, the same year Jamaica gained Independence. Historical records trace past presidents as far back as 1918, though a full list stretches over a century. From its downtown Kingston origins, the JCC has relocated several times, first from Parade to the waterfront and more recently to Half-Way-Tree Road to accommodate growth.

Over the decades, its membership has expanded to include entrepreneurs, attorneys, consultants, and a growing number of micro, small, and medium entreprises (MSMEs). Today, the JCC boasts over 230 members across sectors.

Despite being in business for over 200 years, Ramson shared that the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most pivotal moments for the JCC. It traditionally relied heavily on in-person meetings to engage with businesses for education, mentorship and raising industry issues, but with traditional networking events suspended, the JCC was forced to pivot online, and that unexpectedly expanded its reach. Virtual forums allowed the Chamber to engage a wider cross section of industry stakeholders.

“Because we were online, we weren’t limited to just our members. We could meet with all the players within the industry,” he said.

For his current term, Ramson has set his focus on entrepreneurship, productivity, and equity. While equity is often misunderstood or conflated with equality, Ramson defines it as creating fair opportunities for businesses of all sizes, whether large corporations or small, independent entrepreneurs.

“We tend to see the same names in the media of the same companies doing certain things. And the strength of any country is how big its middle class can be. And in Jamaica, over history, we’ve had these large businesses, and then we have the lower class, and we need to find opportunities for that lower class to grow into the middle-sized middle class,” he told the Business Observer.

Through this lens, Ramson explained, the Chamber’s efforts aim to remove systemic barriers and build out support systems that help small businesses move up the economic ladder and play a greater role in Jamaica’s development. With this as the goal, the Chamber continues to host seminars on regulatory shifts such as the Data Protection Act and workshops with agencies like the Development Bank of Jamaica to connect MSMEs with grants and financing. Ramson shared that the goal is to help small businesses move from the stage of seeking what’s required to engaging with the legal community that can help them walk through the process on all issues. Among its hallmark initiatives is the Business and Consumer Confidence Indices, a 23-year-old research tool that surveys sentiment on economic conditions across households and firms.

“That allows us to engage with a lot of people in the community, and it has become a staple,” he noted.

More recently, the Chamber launched its Breakfast Conversation Series, a forum that brings together CEOs and members for open dialogue on industry trends and leadership strategy. The JCC also recently partnered with VM to expand pension access for entrepreneurs and small teams. A key focus over the past decade has been integrating MSMEs into the Chamber’s wider network. Ramson emphasised the value of giving entrepreneurs access to the same rooms and conversations as major conglomerates. A forthcoming mentorship programme is designed to link small business owners with the CEOs of larger companies, promoting peer-to-peer learning.

“With the Chamber, they’re able to be in the same room with the extra-large company, which is a benefit for them in terms of getting knowledge from them, but also the decision-maker on certain things,” Ramson told the Business Observer.

Because of this, in recent years the Chamber has seen an increase in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) joining. Beyond national borders, the JCC maintains membership in regional organisations like CARICHAM and the Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO). This enables the Chamber to influence broader trade and investment discussions. During recent regional tariff negotiations, the Chamber coordinated directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Industry to inform members of changes and advocate for clarity. As it continues to support local bsuinesses, members also look forward to its annual Best of Chamber Awards which is now 40 years old. The event highlights excellence across small, medium, large, and extra-large businesses, as well as honour companies with strong environmental, social, and governance programmes.

“Our strength is in our numbers,” Ramson concluded. “And the more we collaborate, the stronger our business community becomes.”