• GDP: US$8 billion (2004).
• Main imports: Food and other consumer goods, industrial suppliers, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials.
• Main exports: Alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel and mineral fuels.
• Main trade partners: Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA.

Jamaica is one of the world’s largest producers of bauxite, which accounts for half of the country’s export earnings, but, despite expanding production, low world prices and falling demand have kept revenues static. After a period of rapid expansion in the mid-1970s, tourism has become the major source of foreign exchange. Agriculture (principally sugar cane, bananas, coffee and cocoa) has also been largely stagnant, with improved efficiency and production methods offset by climatic conditions and the state of the world markets. The manufacturing sector produces cement, textiles, tobacco and other consumer goods among its products. Imported oil and gas account for the bulk of the island’s energy requirements.
Economic policy has pursued a familiar course of privatisation of state-owned enterprises, deregulation, tight budgetary controls, and reform of the tax and banking systems. The process was supervised by the IMF and aimed principally at reducing Jamaica’s large debt burden. These measures improved Jamaica’s financial position, but with little benefit to the population who still suffer from high inflation and unemployment. The economy as a whole has contracted by an average of one per cent annually since the mid-1990s. This trend then reversed causing the economy to grow slowly. Hurricane Ivor, in 2004, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted Jamaica's agriculture, especially the production of bananas. Storm rains of the 2005 hurricane season caused further damage. Jamaica is a member of the Caribbean trading bloc, CARICOM, and of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The traditional ‘shirtjac’ (jacket without a tie), also known locally as a kareba, which was popular until the 1970s, has been replaced by a suit, jacket and tie. Usual formalities are required and appointments and business cards are normal. Samples of non-commercial value are allowed into the country without a licence prior to arrival, although it may still be necessary to visit the office of the Trade Administrator to exchange the licence copy for a clearance copy, which the customs authorities demand before clearing the goods. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1700.

The American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica
81 Knutsford Blvd, Kingston 5, Jamaica
Tel: 929 7866.
Website: www.amchamjamaica.org

Trade Board Ltd
107 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica
Tel: 969 0883/3228/2785.
Website: www.tradeboard.gov.jm
Contact to obtain an import licence for trade samples.

Jamaica Conference Centre
Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica
Tel: 922 9160.
Email: jccgm@cwjamaica.com

The Jamaica Tourist Board (see Top Things To Do) can supply information on conferences.