Shipping industry has vital role in Jamaica's development plan

Published: Tuesday August 5, 2008

The shipping industry is to play a vital role in Vision 2030, a plan by the Government to make Jamaica a developed country by that year. The vision is to develop Jamaica as the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.

Among the plans for the shipping industry are the expansion and diversification of maritime infrastructure and services as well as the development of Jamaica as a regional logistic hub.

The vision was shared with members of the shipping industry by Robert Lumsden, economic development specialist at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), at last week's Shipping Association of Jamaica-hosted Maritime and Transport-sponsored Lunch and Learn seminar, held at the SAJ's Port Bustamante offices. Lunch and Learn seminars are held monthly by the SAJ to inform its members about developments in the shipping industry and world trade.

Under the plan to make Jamaica a globally competitive and diversified maritime transport subsector, six key areas have been identified:

Short sea shipping established as a viable option for coastal transport.

Diversification of maritime cargo.

Development of key maritime infrastructure.

Development of human and technical resources for maritime transport.

Creation of maritime centre.

Growth of shipping fleet.

Additionally, five areas have been identified under the plan to make Jamaica a major logistic hub. They are to develop a:

Globally diverse customer base.

Comprehensive policy and institutional framework.

Skilled labour force for major logistic hub.

Efficient and adequate infrastructure and diversified logistic services.

Safe and efficient inter-modal transport linkages.

Lumsden pointed out that several action plans have been noted to achieve the goals for the industry. The completion of the phase five expansion of Kingston Container Terminal is one of the strategies towards the overall development of the industry. Additional strategies and action plans are:

Encourage development of multi-use port facilities.

Support development of existing and new port facilities.

Exploit opportunities to become a crewing nation due to the worldwide shortage of ship's officers.

Implement new curriculum and increase enrolment for maritime professional training.

Nurture ancillary and supporting services to develop maritime centre.

Develop policy for Jamaica as an international shipping centre.

Facilitate growth of ship registry.

Expand Deputy Registrar network worldwide.

Develop national framework and land-use plans to spearhead development of logistic hub.

Develop logistic centres at key locations, including industrial parks and free zones in conjunction with ports and distribution centres.

Integrate inter-modal links between road, rail, sea and air transport systems for logistic hub.

Develop Kingston as a major distribution/logistic/free zone and light manufacturing hub.

Develop a major integrated logistic hub on the south coast linking road transport of Highway 2000, existing rail infrastructure, seaport expansion of Port Esquivel, and airport development at Vernamfield.

The finalised National Development plan is to be completed by April 2009.


Source: Jamaica Gleaner
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080805/business/business2.html