USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON JAMAICA

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction -  Jamaica is located in the Caribbean, 145 km (90 miles) south of Cuba. It was the first of the Caribbean island countries to become independent in the postwar years, and remains an active force in Caribbean politics. Jamaica is also influential on the world music scene: reggae, ska, and ragga (or dancehall) developed in the tough conditions of Kingston's poor districts.

B. Climate -  Jamaica's climate is tropical with constant warm to hot temperatures all year round, though cooler in the higher, central areas. The wettest months are between May and November, when short sharp showers can be expected. The heaviest rains occur in September and October and the hurricane season runs from June to November, though, despite the powerful Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, relatively few hurricanes touch Jamaica.

C. Geographical Area - total area: 4,244 sq mi (10,991 sq km)

D. Language - English, Jamaican Creole

E. Currency With Exchange Rate - Jamaica Dollars (JMD)

1.00 JMD = 0.0141495 USD

F. Population - (2007 est.): 2,780,132

G. Major Cities – Kingston,

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - 272 km

B. Road - total: 18,700 km; paved: 13,109 km; unpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.)

C. Airports - 35 (2004 est.).

D. Waterways -

E. Sea ports - Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky Point

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing - 

B. Major Export - $1.608 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.): alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

C. Major Import - $4.093 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.): food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials.

E. Major Industry - tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications.

F. Trade balance -

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Jamaica:

Major Trade Associations

Jamaica Used Car Dealer Association Secretariat

Kenneth Shaw/Corine Samuels

122 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 8, Jamaica

Tel# 931-7672/969-8298/931-9619

Fax# 941-2821

E-mail jucda@jol.com.jm

Website: www.jucda.com.jm

Chambers of Commerce

Major Trade Shows

5. Useful links:

Jamaica Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts