Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to positioning Jamaica as a leading hub for logistics, manufacturing, and investment, spotlighting the redevelopment and expansion of the historic Garmex Free Zone.
“Nearly five decades ago, the Garmex Free Zone was established… and since then, it has been the cornerstone of industrial development in Jamaica,” Holness said during the official opening of the first phase of the Garmex Free Zone Redevelopment and Expansion project. “At its peak in the 1980s and early 90s, it employed over 12,000 Jamaicans, becoming a catalyst for job creation.”
The expansion project, fully funded by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica Limited (FCJ), adds approximately 126,000 square feet of new commercial and industrial space. Phase one, completed at an estimated cost of J$1.1 billion (about US$8.8 million), features 31 units including 22 mini warehouses for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, six mixed-use spaces, and three larger warehouses.
“This redevelopment is a clear indicator of the government’s intent to establish Jamaica as a leader in logistics and manufacturing, and as an investment destination,” Holness added.
FCJ chairman Lyttleton Shirley noted that the Garmex Free Zone generates nearly J$200 million in annual revenue and that phase two infrastructure work has already begun, expanding the complex by 5.7 acres to meet rising commercial demand. Plans for phases three and four include constructing additional warehouses, commercial buildings, and modernizing older structures to enable vertical growth.
The FCJ also intends to implement environmentally sustainable practices such as water harvesting and solar energy as part of the project’s future phases.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development and Member of Parliament for Kingston Western, Desmond McKenzie, welcomed the expansion’s economic and social benefits, highlighting the Free Zone’s long-standing importance to West Kingston residents. “This development will definitely have an impact on the people in the community and adjoining areas,” he said.
The Garmex Free Zone’s transformation underscores Jamaica’s ongoing efforts to boost industrial capacity and strengthen its role in global supply chains.
