Jamaica moves logistics initiative forward

The government of Jamaica has hired US consulting firms Nathan Associates and Berger ABAM to help it advance the country's Logistics Hub Initiative (LHI).

Jamaica is looking to become a bigger logistics player.

The two firms, with Berger ABAM as sub-consultant, will evaluate current cargo demand and future projections.

Logistics projects already being developed in the country include an expansion of the Kingston Container Terminal and the Portland Bight Transshipment Terminal.

Kingston is being advanced by French operator Terminal Link, for which the IDB approved a loan in late-2015, while in October Jamaica's government and Portland Bight-developer, China Harbour Engineering Company, agreed to extend a framework agreement for the work.

"The master plan and analysis are broken down into two phases, with phase one consisting mostly of data gathering and analytical tasks," said Dr Eric Deans, head of Jamaica's finance ministry's logistics unit.

"It includes the visioning exercise; a cargo analysis; benchmarking analysis; study of the existing industries; and the preparation of an industry analysis," he said.

The 14-month contract is being implemented under a World Bank-financed program to help make Jamaica more competitive.