Port Authority invests billions in Montego Bay

The Port Authority of Jamaica is investing billions of dollars in the expansion of shipping, logistics, and supply chain capacity in St. James.

Senior Vice President of Finance, Information Services, Corporate Planning and Materials Management, Elva Williams-Richards, said that three major projects are being undertaken in the parish.

These include the expansion of berth facilities at the Montego Bay Port at a cost of $1 billion.

The works, which are already under way, aim to improve efficiency for cruise and cargo operations.

In addition, the Authority will be redesigning and scaping a section of Tony Hart Boulevard, the first phase of which will cost more than half a billion dollars.

“Later on in the pipeline is the development of the 12 acres and an over-water boardwalk along the northern coastline of the Bogue Lagoon,” Williams-Richards explained.

“These investments enhance the region’s capacity for trade, shipping and logistics, making western Jamaica a more attractive hub for international commerce and supports Jamaica’s goal of becoming a key player in the global supply chain,” she said.

She was addressing the Montego Bay Free Zone Limited (MBFZ) 40th Anniversary Client Awards Ceremony in St. James on Thursday (March 27).

The event celebrated the entity’s evolution from a promising industrial complex to a sophisticated hub of international business and technological innovation, while recognising the contributions of key stakeholders who have been instrumental in the zone’s success.

With approximately 8,000 workers employed, the MBFZ has made a significant impact on the economy of St. James and the wider Jamaica through commercial activity and job creation, particularly in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Source: JIS