15 / 44
•
www.jamaica-gleaner.com• gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner •
ADVERTISEMENT
THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017
F3
Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) as partners in revising the Policy in line with the climate
change programmes. This collaboration ensures the securing funding for consultancy services to revise the Policy and that climate change is main-
streamed in the revised Policy. Funding has since been confirmed by MEGJC. The revised policy will be up-to-date with the current trends and strate-
gies in the industry.
MARITIME TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Establishment of Ship Repair Facility in Jamaica
Positive strides have been made to establish dry docking/ship repair operations in Jamaica. The Kloska Group, one of the biggest logistics company in
the maritime industry in Europe and Singapore, interested in establishing a dry docking facility in Jamaica, visited Jamaica in the latter part of 2015 to
hold discussions with stakeholders. A Project Outline for the establishment of a dry dock facility was subsequently submitted to the MAJ.
Harren and Partners, a German Shipping company with operations in Jamaica, hassince partnered with The Kloska Group, as well as Jamaica Fruit and
Shipping Limited and Maritime and Transport Limited to form a local company - German Ship Repair Jamaica
Limited in September 2016- to build and operate the Dry Dock operations at Harbour Head, St. Andrew. Two floating docks to cater to vessels up to
220m are to be installed instead of the one that was originally proposed. Each can accommodate up to six vessels at a
time.The indicative projected start-up time is 21 to 27 months (late 2018). On November 3, 2016, the first dry docking establishment was launched with
the Prime Minister, The Honorable Andrew Holness, in attendance.
PROMOTION OF JAMAICA AS A NAUTICAL DESTINATION
The MAJ is seeking to promote Jamaica as a nautical destination, in order to leverage the success of the Yacht Registry to attract yachting activities to
Jamaica. This includes the utilization of the Port Antonio Marina. This initiative is in collaboration with the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Ministry of
Tourism, and JAMPRO.
Local stakeholders in Port Antonio are being brought on-board to discuss positioning the Town as a yachting destination.
AIR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
ESTABLISHMENT OF VERNAMFIELD AIR FACILITIESAS AN INTERNATIONAL AVIATION HUB
The Vernamfield Development Project (VDP) was conceptualized to expand and strengthen Jamaicaʼs international aviation industry and at the same
time position Jamaica as an international cargo transshipment hub. This will also leverage the existing and future cargo networks at the Port of
Kingston. This public-private sector based development project is estimated to cost US$2.5B and will be developed on a phased-basis over a 10-year
period. The parameters of the project were subsequently re-scoped to take place within the context of an Aerotropolis.
The Economic Growth and Job Creation Committee of Cabinet is now considering the Vernamfield Development Plan as a Strategic Investment. Cabi-
net has been asked to note the parameters of the project and for approval to proceed with the project as a strategic investment. In the interim, the Ver-
namfield Enterprise Team continues to seek investment interests for advancing the project. Thus far, a number of potential investors have been
identified. The VDP is favourably positioned as a critical Special Economic Zone in developing Jamaica as a Logistics Hub.
NORMAN MANLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Phase 1B of the Capital Development Programme for the NMIA, valued at US$26M, is currently underway. This will complement new infrastructure cre-
ated under Phase 1A in three categories of projects, namely risk mitigation, maintenance and upgrade, and efficiency improvements.
For the 2016/2017 financial year, seven projects are targeted for implementation, as indicated below.
•
Extension of the Fire Suppression System,
•
Electrical System Upgrade - Phase 2,
•
Air Handling Units (AHU) procurement & Installation,
•
Replacement & Upgrade of Major Fixed Assets,
•
Major upgrade and overhaul of the 2007 installed Chillers, and
•
Electronic System Upgrade.
With the exception of the last project, which has been completed, the programme for the financial year is at various stages in the implementation
process.
UPGRADING OF THE IAN FLEMMING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Improvement works are being undertaken on the Ian Flemming International Airport. The project is scheduled to be completed over a period of 18
months once it is started.
The upgrade of the Airport is being pursued in order to drive economic development, in particular tourism in North-Eastern Jamaica – Portland, St.
Mary and St. Ann. The upgrade works will involve the extension of the runway by 700 ft. to 5,500 ft., design and construction of concrete box culvert
(tunnel) to accommodate the road under the runway, expansion and reconfiguration of existing airport terminal and infrastructure support to meet Air-
port Classification 3C and ARFFS Category 6.
The project is to be implemented at a cost of US$15M. Upon completion, the Airport should be able to accommodate the design aircraft types to drive
growth of commercial passenger and general aviation traffic.
FORGING OF AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS
During the period March – December 2016, the GOJ signed two Air Services Agreements (ASA), namely Jamaica/Canada and Jamaica/Kuwait. The ASA
between Jamaica and Canada was signed on December 21, 2016. During 2016/2017, the Ministry also held negotiations with sixteen (16) countries, as
indicated: South Africa, Dominican Republic, Saint Maarten, Hong Kong SAR (China), Denmark, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Burkina Faso,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Paraguay, India, Qatar and Austria. The latter seven countries in the above list represent the number of ASAs that are ready for
signature. In total, the GOJ has approximately thirty (30) signed ASAs with various countries around the globe. This is critical to Minister Henryʼs and
the Governmentʼs efforts to take full advantage of Jamaicaʼs position on the globe, whereby we can delivery goods and services to other parts of the
world two to four days faster than another country.
MINING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
REOPENING AND EXPANSION OF THE ALPART ALUMINA PLANT, ST. ELIZABETH
The Bauxite Mining Sector is positioned to get a major boost from the reopening and expansion of the ALPART Alumina Plant in Nain, St. Elizabeth. The
ALPART Alumina Plant, the largest alumina plant in Jamaica, has been closed since early 2009 due to the global economic recession and soaring en-
ergy costs.
The Ministry of Transport and Mining (MTM), has spearhead efforts for alumina production at ALPART to resume by June of this year. This followed the
successful completion of the sale of operations to Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) in October 2016. JISCO is the largest
iron and steel company in China and their purchase will represent an investment of US$1Billion to the Jamaican economy in the first phase. The full re-
sumption of operations at ALPART is expected to create 700 job opportunities for Jamaicans and significantly increase our foreign
exchange earnings from the mining sector.
THE GOJ -NEW DAY ALUMINUM PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
A new day has dawned for the workers and suppliers of goods and services to Noranda operations in St. Ann. The Government OfJamaica,through the
Ministry of transport and Mining and other relevant agencies, was able to negotiate a partnership deal with New
Day/DaDa Holdings to take over the operations of Noranda Bauxite in St. Ann. New Day was selected by Noranda and its creditors as the approved bid-
der to purchase the Gramercy Facilities and bauxite mining rights in Jamaica.
The timely and efficiently conclusion of the partnership agreement with New Day has prevented any disruption or the possible closure of Noranda
Bauxite operations which would have significant financial and social implications for the Jamaican economy. The Government was able to skillfully ne-
gotiate and get every dollar that was owed workers and vendors and by extension secure the jobs of those who would have become new unemployed.
Unlike their US counterparts who got back only 1 cent in every dollar owed Jamaica got back 100%.
The Policy was changed from earnings from the bauxite levy to profit sharing in downstream operations once a profit is made. .In this regard the Nego-
tiating Team was able to secure a landmark profit sharing arrangement with New Day Aluminum. This new arrangement
should result in increased revenue for the GOJ.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MINERALS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
In December 2015, Jamaica was selected for the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme based on an Expression of Interest, submitted in October
2015. From the threeyear €13.1 millionprogramme, Jamaica was allocated funding of €750,000 for a capacity building programme that aims to build the
profile, and improve the management of neglected development minerals (industrial minerals, construction aggregates, dimension
stones and semi-precious stones).