SAJ stands ready to train new Special Economic Zone employees

HUNDREDS OF employment opportunities are expected to arise with the establishment of the Caymanas Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in St Catherine, and when they do, the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) stands ready to provide the necessary training and guidance for the required workforce.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness broke ground last week Tuesday for the facility, a sprawling 700-acre logistics park which he described as a long-standing dream and a pivotal moment in Jamaica’s economic development.

“Today, what you are seeing is not just the materialisation of a dream, but you are also seeing the dividends of a well-run economy. When the two things come together, great things can be achieved,” said Holness in his keynote address at the launch.

“Jamaica is not short of brilliant people with great ideas. We are not short on dreamers who can articulate and sell the dream. What we have been terribly short of are the people to get it done,” he continued, noting that although the vision for the CSEZ is over a decade old, Jamaica’s economy is only now primed to deliver it.

Holness explained that the Port Authority of Jamaica will develop 60 of the 700 acres designated for the CSEZ. This will be financed in part through the divestment of some of the authority’s operations via the local stock market and other means.

President and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica, Professor Gordon Shirley, explained during the ceremony that the CSEZ will feature dedicated road and rail connections to the ports. It will be built to the highest international standards and engineered to be resilient to natural hazards.

“The CSEZ is being developed to create a large number of skilled and semi-skilled jobs in manufacturing, technology, and logistics. It will attract foreign direct investments and support economic diversification and GDP growth,” he said, noting that efficient ports are key to logistics investment.

Following last Tuesday’s ceremony, President of the SAJ, Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, described the groundbreaking of the CSEZ as a defining moment for Jamaica’s logistics sector, one that reflects the country’s growing capacity to compete on the global stage.

She noted that the zone will reinforce the Port of Kingston’s role as a critical transshipment and logistics hub, offering value-added services that enhance Jamaica’s competitiveness. “By capitalising on our geographic advantage near the Panama Canal and key shipping routes, this development strengthens our position as the gateway to the Americas,” she said.

“The CSEZ will open up new employment pathways in logistics, manufacturing, and supply chain services. The SAJ is committed to preparing the workforce to meet these emerging demands through targeted training and industry partnerships,” said Robertson-Sylvester.

“With more than eight decades of experience in maritime labour and logistics, the SAJ is well positioned to support the companies that will set up within the CSEZ,” she added. “Whether through specialised training, human resource support, or tailored labour solutions, we are ready to serve as a strategic partner in this next phase of Jamaica’s logistics growth.”

The CSEZ forms part of Jamaica’s broader Logistics Hub Initiative, a national strategic project designed to position the country as a premier logistics and transshipment centre in the Western Hemisphere. Spearheaded by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), the CSEZ will span approximately 700 acres in St Catherine and is designed to offer tax incentives, streamlined regulations, and high-quality infrastructure to attract local and international investors across multiple sectors including logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, ICT, pharmaceuticals, and light industry.

As part of the first phase of development, the PAJ will directly build out 60 acres as a proof of concept. This will include the construction of small warehouse facilities, road networks, drainage systems, security infrastructure, and a one-stop-shop to streamline administrative processes. The zone’s proximity to the Port of Kingston, major highways, and international airports makes it an ideal logistics gateway, offering seamless multi-modal connectivity. In addition to facilitating global trade, the CSEZ is expected to generate thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs, strengthen Jamaica’s economic resilience, and enhance its competitiveness in the global supply chain.