FCJ building projects facilitates more job creation! (Jamaica 2018)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in his presentation to parliament during the 2018/2019 budget debates revealed that the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) was authorised by the government to implement three projects to develop 1.5 million square feet of space. Construction will take place over the next three to five years. The space will be dedicated 

to both commercial and industrial enterprises.

Among the engagements expected to be facilitated are agro-processing, business process 
outsourcing (BPO), manufacturing, distribution and warehousing. Prime Minster Andrew 
Holness, who made the announcement, said 30 per cent of the space will be dedicated to 
small and medium-sized enterprises.

This information was revealed during his budget speech which was titled
'Prosperity in Action.' Mr. Holness also noted that there was increased demand for 
commercial/production space which amounted to 470,000 square feet in 2017.

“At Garmex Free Zone, the largest commercial complex in the island, prospective investors 
demanded 241,000 square feet of production space. This high demand for space is also 
reflected in the increase in occupancy from 86 per cent to 93 per cent over the last 12 
months in FCJ facilities,” he indicated.

Holness pointed out that Garmex Free Zone in Kingston sits on 52.7 acres of land, 8.7 
acres of which is unused, greenfield “which is ripe for development”. He informed the 
House that the style of the existing buildings is “flat” construction, and will be redesigned 
to create multilevel structures of higher capacity.

The Prime Minister said that phase one of the project will entail the construction of 
360,000 square feet across 14 buildings of varying sizes. The FCJ, said Holness, has also 
received full approval from the Public Investment Management Secretariat, adding that 
“the procurement process has already started and these buildings are expected to be 
delivered by the second quarter of 2019”.

In relation to Morant Bay's revitalisation incorporating the establishment of a new urban 
centre at the former Goodyear tyre factory, the prime minister advised that FCJ has also 
received conditional approval from the management secretariat for this project 
and was awaiting Cabinet's go-ahead for the joint venture agreement.