Australian Government - Austrade


Search Click to start search
Username    Password  Remember me Click to Login
Join  Forgotten Password?  Contact Us 
You are here:

Jamaica profile

Click to send this to a friendClick to print pageClick to print page to PDFContact usChange to standard fontChange to large font

Current business situation



Arrow Image Go

Visiting this country

Security & health, Travel tips & facts

Arrow Image Go

Country overview

Country facts, Economic climate, Political climate, Trade relations & statistics

Arrow Image Go

Useful websites and resources 

Government, business & trade, News & media, Travel & tourism

Arrow Image Go

Doing business

Business opportunities, Business etiquette, Tariffs & regulations, Documentation, Taxation                

Arrow Image Go

Contact details

Austrade offices, Australian Embassy


Arrow Image Go

Current business situation

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Jamaica. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

back to top of site

Country overview

Country facts

Capital city: Kingston
Surface area: 11,000 sq km
Population: 2.7 million
Official language(s): English
Government: Independent State within the British Commonwealth
Head of State: H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General H.E. The Most Hon Prof Kenneth Octavius Hall
Head of Government: Prime Minister The Most Hon Portia Simpson Miller
Australian exports to Jamaica: $A31 million
Australian imports from Jamaica: $A2 million
Jamaica's principal export destinations: USA, France, Canada
Jamaica's principal import sources: USA, Trinidad and Tobago, France


(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

Economic climate

Key economic indicators and statistics for 2006*:

GDP - US$10.6 billion
GDP per capita - US$3979
Real GDP growth - 2.8 per cent
Inflation rate - 9.6 per cent

(*IMF forecast)

Trade relations and statistics

Major Australian exports to Jamaica (2005-06):


Meat (excluding bovine) - A$17 million

Taps, cocks, valves - A$3 million

Bovine meat - A$3 million

Toys, games and sporting goods - A$3 million


Major Australian imports from Jamaica (2005-06):


Alcoholic beverages - A$1 million


(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)

back to top of site

Doing business

Business opportunities

The Opportunities Online website may be a useful addition to your information sources. The database established by Austrade aims to deliver international sales leads ('export opportunities'), including tenders, generated by our overseas network to Australian businesses.
 

Registering is simple and once this is done you will have the option of accessing a weekly newsletter featuring the most recent opportunities uploaded onto the system in industry sectors of interest to you. Another feature is the ability to view, and also print, the complete page of opportunity details.
 

For general inquiries concerning Austrade’s services, please contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.

Business etiquette

Please note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.

Tariffs and regulations

Import restrictions

Most goods may be freely imported. Specific import licences, issued by the Trade Administrator, are required for a limited range of items. These include motor vehicles, specific chemicals, onions, prepared or preserved tomatoes and pharmaceuticals. The Minister of Industry and Commerce is responsible for the administration of Jamaican import regulations.

The import of specific foodstuffs and motor vehicles are the monopoly of the Jamaica Commodity Trading Corporation (JCTC). Imports are subjects to customs tariff in compliance with CARICOM, which is the Caribbean Common Market.

A range of goods are prohibited including most fruits and vegetables, grains and seeds.

Most restrictions on foreign currency exchange have been lifted. Exchange control approval from the Bank of Jamaica is still required for payments in excess of US$2000, but permission is generally granted.

Tariff

Single-column tariff based on the Harmonised System. Duties are ad valorem (%) assessed on the CIF value. Rates generally range from five per cent to 20 per cent with higher rates applied to certain 'non-basic' and finished goods. Exceptions to this duty structure are:

  • Basic food items imported by the JCTC, which are sold at subsidised prices.
  • Specific agricultural products which are protected by a combination of duties and stamp taxes ranging up to 30 per cent.
  • Jamaica is a member of the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM), which admits imports sourced in other member countries duty free.

Customs authority contact details:


Commissioner of Customs and Excise
Customs and Excise Department
PO Box 466
Kingston 15
Tel: +1 809 922 3828
Fax: +1 809 922 7110

Packing, marking and labelling

No specific packing requirements except that materials likely to carry disease must not be used. Packing should be secure and guard against extreme heat in summer, humidity in winter and possible storage in the open.

If duty-free and dutiable goods are included in the same package, the entire contents will be subjected to the dutiable rate.

Medicaments of any kind are prohibited unless the formula or composition (including the name and quantity of each ingredient used) is clearly printed on the container in English, French or Spanish.

For shelf goods especially, attractive cartons and labels, with a clear indication of contents, are recommended.

Weights and measures

British and metric systems are used.

Insurance

Normal commercial practice.

Methods of quoting and payment

Quotations should be in Australian dollars CIF. Payment is usually by sight draft.

Public health requirements

A wide range of unprocessed plant products (including fresh fruit and vegetables) are restricted entry.

Permitted foodstuffs are subject to inspection on arrival.

Wheat flour must be enriched with specified proportions of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and iron.

Alcohol (eg. ethyl, methyl and propyl) exceeding 50 per cent of alcohol by weight (but not including tinctures of the British and US Pharmacopoeia, and perfumes) and coffee, are prohibited.

Drugs and medicaments require the prior approval of the Food and Drug Board.

Quarantine, health and similar regulations are subject to frequent change and exporters should therefore be guided by importers.

Documentation

Fax signatures not acceptable.

Commercial invoice

No prescribed form. Use of the aligned format devised by the Economic Commission for Europe is highly recommended. Original and five copies are required.

The invoice must indicate a full description of the shipment including:

  • Name and address of seller and consignee along with customer order number
  • Complete transportation details including port of lading and name of vessel
  • A complete description of the weight, marks
  • Terms and conditions of payment and delivery
  • The name of the bank handling the transaction and the currency of sale
  • The country of origin of the goods

It must also bear the following endorsed declaration: 'It is hereby certified that this invoice shows the actual price of the goods described, that no other invoice has been or will be issued and that all particulars are true and correct.' Signature and status of authorised member of firm. Certification by an approved authority (see 'Guidelines', Section 2.3) is also required.

Bill of lading

Normal commercial practice. 'To Order' bills acceptable.

Packing list

Not mandatory, but facilitates customs clearance.

Certificate of insurance

Normal commercial practice.

Certificate of origin

Not generally required, although sometimes requested, in which case importer's instructions should be followed.

Special certificates

Livestock, plants and fresh vegetables must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by an approved authority in the country of origin; in Australia this is usually the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia, or the relevant state department of agriculture.

Second-hand clothing, and second-hand boots and shoes are not permitted unless accompanied by a certificate of disinfection issued by the health authorities in the country of origin.

Spirits may need a certificate of maturity.

Taxation

A general consumption tax of 10 per cent has replaced most other taxes. It is levied on almost all consumer items and services.

back to top of site

Visiting this country

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Jamaica. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Travel tips and facts

For further travel information please visit Lonely Planet.

Time

Jamaica is 15 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.

To find out the current time in Kingston, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Jamaica's country code is 876.

For calls to Jamaica from Australia dial: 0011 + 876 + telephone number.

For calls from Jamaica to Australia dial: 011 + 61 + area code + telephone number.

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Electricity

The electricity supply in Jamaica is AC, 50 cycles, 110/220 volts, 1, 3 phases, 2, 3, 4 wires.

Weather

For weather details in Jamaica, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Currency

Oanda currency converter

The official currency is the Jamaican Dollar (J$).

Public holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day

February 21 - Ash Wednesday

April 9 - Good Friday

May 23 - Labour Day

August 1 - Emancipation Day

August 6 - Independence Day

October 17 - National Heroes' Day

December 25 - Christmas

back to top of site

Useful websites and resources

Government, business and trade

Jamaica Information Service - www.jis.gov.jm
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade - www.mfaft.gov.jm 
Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce - www.mct.gov.jm

News and media

Jamaica Daily Gleaner - www.jamaica-gleaner.com
Jamaica Observer - www.jamaicaobserver.com

Travel and tourism

Jamaica Travel - www.visitjamaica.com 

Please note: this list of websites and resources is not definitive. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by Austrade. The information provided is a guide only.

back to top of site

Contact details

Austrade offices

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Federal Government agency that helps Australian companies win overseas business for their products and services by reducing the time, cost and risk involved in selecting, entering and developing international markets.

Austrade offers practical advice, market intelligence and ongoing support (including financial) to Australian businesses looking to develop international markets. Austrade also provides advice and guidance on overseas investment and joint venture opportunities, and helps put Australian businesses in contact with potential overseas investors.

The Austrade office in Mexico is responsible for Jamaica and can assist with any queries. A list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is available.

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au

Australian Embassy

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Jamaica. The Australian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago provides consular assistance to Australians in Jamaica.

Australian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago
18 Herbert Street
St Clair
Port of Spain
Trinidad and Tobago
Tel: +1 (868) 628 0695
Fax: +1 (868) 622 0659
Website: www.trinidadandtobago.embassy.gov.au


(Last updated: 06 Jul 2007)

Export Update

Austrade's monthly eNewsletter bringing you all the latest export-related news and events within Australia and overseas.

Sidebar Content

Sidebar Content

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Multinational Enterprises should be aware of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business behaviour in a variety of areas, consistent with applicable domestic laws. These Guidelines are endorsed and promoted by the Australian Government. For more information, go to the ANCP website.

     

Footer Information

Economist's Corner Publications Student Centre Employment DFAT Minister for Trade Contact Us RSS/XML Feeds
Privacy Disclaimer Technical Info Site Disclaimer Linking Policy Site Map Useful Websites FAQs

Disclaimer

Austrade makes no warranty, express or implied as to the fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy or usefulness of any information contained in this document. Any consequential loss or damage suffered as a result of reliance on this information is the sole responsibility of the user.