3,000 New Permanent Jobs to Be Created Through Garmex Freezone Expansion
The government will create another 3,000 permanent jobs in the economy through the expansion of the Garmex Freezone industrial belt in Kingston.
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness made the announcement on Monday (June 23) at the official ribbon cutting for Phase 1 of the Garmex Freezone Redevelopment and Expansion Project on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston.
The jobs are projected to be created across the site over the next five years.
“What is being built here is the infrastructure of prosperity. These two phases combined are projected to create up to 400 jobs in the construction phase and as many as 3,000 new permanent jobs across the campus over the next five years,” said Prime Minister Holness.
Prime Minister Holness said the Redevelopment and Expansion Project is a bold example of how government-led industrial development can deliver sustainable economic opportunity for Jamaicans.
The Garmex Freezone, Jamaica’s largest commercial industrial complex, has been revitalized through an ambitious multi-phase project spearheaded by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ). Phase 1 has already delivered 126,000 square feet of new industrial space across 17 enterprises.
Prime Minister Holness highlighted that this project was completed without borrowing.
“That is prudent public financial management, which leads to smart and sustainable development. In just over two years since the new facilities became operational, they have generated more than 340 million dollars in rental income. These revenues will be reinvested to finance additional phases of expansion,” he explained.
He continued:
“A self-financing government enterprise delivering quality infrastructure, creating jobs, and expanding economic opportunity, all without putting a strain on the taxpayer. That is the kind of governance we aim to institutionalize across the public sector. We are building for the future without taking from the future. So in effect, this generation of public enterprise will be a net contributor to the wealth of future generations.”
With Phases 2 and 3 now underway, costing $3.2 billion and $1.5 billion respectively, the government is intensifying efforts to prepare the Jamaican workforce for the new opportunities.
Prime Minister Holness directed that collaboration with HEART/NSTA Trust must begin immediately to ensure the availability of trained and certified workers.
“We still have a number of Jamaicans who could be in the labor force but have opted not to be… Some have skills, but they need certification in order to get into the employment that they would want.”
Dr. Holness underscored that training and certification must be integrated into development planning, not just to meet investment or regulatory benchmarks, but to match the labor force to real, high-value opportunities.
The Garmex expansion will cater primarily to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and emerging sectors such as technology and innovation.
“Let this ribbon-cutting ceremony serve as a signal of our collective ambition to position Jamaica as a global logistics, manufacturing, and investment destination,” the Prime Minister said.
As Jamaica builds out modern, investor-ready infrastructure, Prime Minister Holness reiterated that economic development must go hand in hand with human capital development.
The 3,000 additional permanent jobs in the labour force represent more than a number; they represent lives transformed, skills unlocked, and communities empowered.