Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has said that while the present fiscal situation facing the country cannot be ignored, it should stimulate creativity in moving forward.

Speaking at the Jamaica Stock Exchange Investments and Capital Markets Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, (January 21), Prime Minister Simpson Miller said within the context of the limited "fiscal space" under the Extended Fund Facility of the International Monetary Fund, the Government has been devising ways of encouraging and stimulating growth activities in the economy and has also implemented specific projects which provide the essence of the policy structure which has been embraced.

"In pursuit of our objective of economic and employment growth, we are seeking to resuscitate those traditional economic activities in which we have already established competence and expertise capable of meeting world competition. Efforts are underway in agriculture and tourism to increase productivity and output. The Agro-Parks initiative is a concrete example whereby small farmers are being given the opportunity to play a greater role in the expansion of this most important sector. Another plank of our aggressive plan to grow the economy and expand employment is the continued development and modernization of physical and communication infrastructure" the Prime Minister explained.

Other projects in electricity services and telecommunications network expansion, significant investments in highway construction, modernization of the Kingston Container Terminal, expansion of the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, as well as privatization and modernization of the Norman Manley Airport in Kingston all from part of the objective of developing Jamaica as an international "Logistics Hub".

The Prime Minister said these projects, some of which are already underway will "significantly improve Jamaica's ability to attract investments and place the country in a position to more fully exploit its unique geographic location." She added that for these developments to take place, close partnership is needed with support sectors including education and training and health.

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