KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness, says $668 million has been approved for local film productions under the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI).

He said that the funds, which will be disbursed shortly, will benefit 91 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMES).

“This is a priority sector because of its inherent value to our national culture and its growth potential based on the strength of Brand Jamaica. So, we are promoting and supporting our entrepreneurs in the creative space, starting with film,” he noted.

Holness was addressing an MSME linkages day event at the University of Technology (UTech) in St Andrew on July 15.

Launched in 2024, the JSDI is a $1-billion initiative that aims to support and strengthen the local film industry by providing a pool of funds for the completion of eligible screen-based projects across various stages of development.

The objective is to provide opportunities for new, emerging and established talent behind the camera to create more high-quality Jamaican content capable of competing in the global market.

“This would probably be the first time that any Government would have taken up $1 billion and establish a fund for the creative enterprise. We have done it for film and we are actively considering other areas of creativity to which we can give this level of support,” the prime minister said.

Beyond the creative industries, he noted that the Government is building new pillars of growth in areas such as technology, agro-business and wellness.

–         JIS