NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026 71 INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY/CUSTOMS WEEK FEATURE | THE SUNDAY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 1, 2026 JAMAICA HAS always been at the centre of global trade. From the days of buccaneers, when Port Royal emerged as one of the world’s most active trading hubs, earning its reputation as the “wickedest city in the West” to the establishment of the Jamaica Export Free Zones in the 1970s, trade has been a defining force in the country’s economic evolution. The Export Free Zones Act marked a deliberate shift towards export-led growth, with more than 80 per cent of production within the zones destined for overseas markets. Today, Jamaica operates a modern and globally aligned Special Economic Zone (SEZ) regime, purpose-built to support productive investment, facilitate trade, and strengthen competitiveness in an increasingly complex global economy. At the heart of this regime is a carefully balanced framework, one that enables legitimate business activity at reduced cost, while maintaining strong regulatory oversight, national security, and revenue protection. As Jamaica’s business landscape has expanded and diversified, much like a living, breathing ecosystem, so too has the enabling policy environment that supports it. The SEZ regime offers globally competitive incentives, including zero per cent customs duty on goods used within zones, a reduced corporate income tax rate that can be as low as 7.75%, and zero per cent General Consumption Tax on goods and services purchased for SEZ use. Importantly, SEZ developers benefit from zero per cent corporate income tax on rental income, creating a compelling investment case for the development of high-quality industrial and logistics infrastructure. However, SEZs do not function in isolation. As physically demarcated areas operating under distinct trade rules, their effectiveness depends fundamentally on strong customs administration. In this regard, the Jamaica Customs Agency is the cornerstone upon which the SEZ regime operates. Under the Special Economic Zones Act, SEZs function within a controlled and regulated environment that provides streamlined processes and incentives to approved developers and occupants engaged in activities such as logistics, manufacturing, global services, and agro-processing. The Jamaica Customs Agency plays a critical role in safeguarding this framework by overseeing the movement of goods into, within, and out of SEZs, ensuring compliance with customs laws, trade agreements, and national policy objectives. This oversight is essential to preventing the misuse of incentives, illicit trade, and revenue leakage, while preserving the integrity of Jamaica’s trade ecosystem. Through the application of risk-based controls, modern inspection techniques, and close collaboration with the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), Customs enables efficient SEZ operations without compromising the public interest. Targeted risk assessment allows compliant businesses to benefit from faster clearance, reduced uncertainty, and greater predictability, key factors that strengthen investor confidence and support ease of doing business. Customs also reinforces transparency and accountability within the SEZ regime through robust documentation requirements, electronic reporting systems, and post-clearance audits. These mechanisms ensure that duty and tax concessions are applied appropriately and consistently, supporting good governance and reinforcing Jamaica’s reputation as a credible, rules-based investment destination aligned with international standards. Beyond enforcement, Customs’ role is integral to Jamaica’s broader economic ambition. SEZs increasingly serve as hubs for logistics, manufacturing, nearshoring, and trans-shipment, positioning the country as a strategic connector between the Americas and global markets. Continuous process improvement, informed by data, risk intelligence, and stakeholder engagement, helps ensure that Jamaica remains competitive in attracting and retaining high-quality investment. As Jamaica advances its vision of becoming a nearshoring and logistics hub, the partnership between the Jamaica Customs Agency and the SEZ regime is not merely operational, it is strategic. By combining facilitation with enforcement, efficiency with integrity, and growth with security, Customs helps ensure that the benefits of economic expansion are sustainable, inclusive, and firmly grounded in the public interest. In doing so, the Jamaica Customs Agency exemplifies its mandate: protecting society while enabling trade and ensuring that the SEZ regime delivers long-term value not only for investors and businesses, but for the Jamaican people as a whole. Submission by Jamaica Special Economic Zone (JSEZA) CUSTOMS AND THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE REGIME PROTECTING JAMAICA’S ECONOMY WHILE ENABLING TRADE Beyond enforcement, Customs’ role is integral to Jamaica’s broader economic ambition. SEZs increasingly serve as hubs for logistics, manufacturing, nearshoring, and trans-shipment, positioning the country as a strategic connector between the Americas and global markets. Continuous process improvement, informed by data, risk intelligence, and stakeholder engagement, helps ensure that Jamaica remains competitive in attracting and retaining high-quality investment.
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