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Jamaica

List of incentives available in this location for quick easy reference below.

Incentives

Table key

  • Incentive offered
  • Incentive not offered
  • Did not submit information
Cash grants/incentives
Tax exemptionsMore [+]Less [-]
  • Companies may receive relief from the Common External Tariff (CET)
  • Companies may receive relief from the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on equipment, machinery and materials coming into the country,
  • Companies may receive up to five years income tax relief.
  • Companies considered to be international finance companies may receive partial relief from income tax.
  • Tax exemptions can be acquired for firms involved in shipping, (e.g. approved Shipping Corporations may receive tax relief and concessions on import duties for up to ten years),
  • film production (e.g. recognized film producers may receive income tax relief for 9 years)
Property assistance / other fiscal incentiveMore [+]Less [-]
  • JAMPRO offers assistance to investors seeking to locate property in Jamaica to establish their investment.
  • Other forms of assistance include relief from import duties for construction items which are not available locally, and Income tax relief on factory leasing or sales through the Factory Construction Law.
  • The Urban Renewal Act allows for relief from income tax, stamp duty, and transfer tax to those persons/companies engaging in transactions geared towards urban development in areas experiencing decline in the metropolitan centres of Kingston and Montego Bay.
Training and labor market assistanceMore [+]Less [-]
  • There are a number of private and government tertiary and vocational agencies that provide technical, training and placement support through institutions, customized on-the-job training, programming and partnerships.
  • Agencies have partnered with numerous investors in the training and certification of workers and are particularly interested in high skill/high wage jobs, in which the training provided leads to national and or industry specific certification.
  • The Ministry of Labour has created a local searchable database, The Labour Market Information System, which houses economic and labor force data and offers job matching services through its online portal.
Loan guarantees, cheap loans or financeMore [+]Less [-]
  • The Government of Jamaica offers low-cost financing through the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and Ex-Im Bank providing appropriate medium and long-term financing solutions [through alliances with Approved Financial Institutions (AFI) and other financiers] at attractive interest rates, as well as direct lending for large projects in strategic areas.
  • Other sources of financing include equity financing through the Junior Stock Exchange (JSE). Through the JSE investors have the opportunity to raise capital on the equities market through public offerings.
Exemptions from regulationsMore [+]Less [-]

The Government of Jamaica has no restrictions on the movement of foreign currencies flowing either in or out of Jamaica.

Target sectorsMore [+]Less [-]
  1. Information, Communications and Technology
  2. Manufacturing
  3. Tourism
Sectors specific incentivesMore [+]Less [-]

ICT

Jamaica Export Free Zone Act - ‘Free Zone’ status for companies exporting at least 85% of their services gives service providers exemptions from income tax on profits in perpetuity, as well as on import duties and licensing. Permissions for the repatriation of foreign exchange by overseas investors to parent companies without any form of recourse on the part of the Government of Jamaica.

Factory Construction Law

This Law targets companies which construct factories, lease and or sell them to producers. It grants relief from:

  • Import duties for items which are not available locally, and
  • Income tax on factory leasing or sales

Tourism

a) Hotels (Incentives) Act - provides income tax relief and import duty concessions for up to ten years for approved hotel enterprises, and 15 years for convention-type hotels.

b) Resort Cottages (Incentives) Act - offers income tax relief and duty concessions on imported building materials and furnishings for up to 15 years for convention-type hotels, and 10 years for regular hotels.

c) Attractions Incentive Regulation - importation of specific items free of general consumption tax and customs duty for five years and a five-year exemption from corporate taxes for investors.

Manufacturing

a) The Export Industry Encouragement Act - offers to qualified firms 10 years’ income tax relief plus exemptions on duty for imported machinery and raw materials.

b) The Modernization of Industry Programme - offers assistance to manufacturers adopting productivity-oriented techniques by granting exemption of General Consumption Tax on capital equipment.

Sponsorship

If you are the authorised promotions agency for Jamaica and would like to have your location highlighted on fDi Atlas, you can contact our sales team on + 44 (0) 207 775 6667 or contact us here.