Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Aubyn Hill has urged  business operators to find new ways to create and produce new products and services to export to existing and new markets.

Making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday, he said Jamaica’s trade balance numbers force the export imperative on the country.

Mr. Hill pointed out that  in the 62 years of Jamaica’s independence, there have been  61 years of  negative trade balances, adding that the last time Jamaica recorded a positive trade balance was in 1966.

He stated that this long negative record is untenable, especially since the trade balance keeps widening, as Jamaica continues to import a lot more than it exports. 

The Industry and Commerce Minister said Jamaica has no choice, but to export exponentially more.

Mr. Hill stated that another area of growth will include turning Jamaica into the logistics hub of the  Caribbean.