KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government of Jamaica has signed a new agreement launching a $1.42 billion project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to transform land administration locally.

The Korea-Jamaica partnership is expected to facilitate secure land rights, stronger institutions and sustainable development through easier and more transparent land ownership.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness noted that: “A land title is more than a document, it is a platform for opportunity. This project is about building that platform at scale.”

The project, which will run from until 2031, aims to increase efficiency in land administration by equipping the National Land Agency (NLA) with new digital infrastructure and upskilling locals in the geoplanning space with new skills through the establishment of a Land Administration Innovation Centre (LAIC).

The centre is to be housed at 84 Hanover Street in Kingston and will be established over the period of implementation.

Minister of Land Titling and Settlements Robert Montague explained that Jamaica has approximately 900,000 parcels of land, of which approximately 500,000 are titled – approximately 55 per cent.

Country Director of KOICA in the Dominican Republic Sook Jin Byun said:“With the strong leadership and cooperation of the National Land Agency of Jamaica and together with the expertise of our Korean team, I believe that this project will make a very meaningful contribution to the modernisation of Jamaica’s land administration system.”

—  Dana Malcolm