Jamaica boasts an open and diverse economy with encouraging prospects and a strong international profile. This is supported by a sturdy political commitment to free enterprise, distinct brand identity, and the expansion of benefits.

Since the early 1990s, the Jamaican government has pursued a program of economic liberalization and stabilization through the removal of exchange controls, reduction of tariffs, stabilization of local currency, by reducing inflation and removing restrictions on foreign investment. As a result there are no restrictions on the movement of capital, profits, and dividends. There are virtually no exchange controls and no approval is required for repatriation of profits and dividends.

Thanks to these measures, Jamaica ranks 21st for global interest as an inward investment location and has made tremendous strides in creating an environment conducive to enterprise development. According to Jamaican-Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin, “Jamaica is an excellent place for doing business. The country has a good low risk ratio and the government welcomes investors with open arms.”

Other factors strengthening Jamaica as an ideal investment location are its warm climate, a large friendly English-speaking population, a competitively priced labor force, accessibility to a diverse labor pool and its strategic location for trading with the rest of the Western Hemisphere. Noted advantages are, proximity to the United States, historic and emerging relationship with the Latin American bloc and its vicinity to the Panama Canal. Additionally, the island is served by an abundance of natural resources and a well-developed infrastructure.

At present tourism clearly dominates the economy. Nearly two million people are drawn to the Island annually. The agriculture, mining, manufacturing, banking and construction/real-estate sectors are also an important part of the Jamaican economy along with new business sectors like telecommunications which are significantly contributing to growth.

The inflow of investments for Jamaica in the year 2006 was the highest over the last five years, $850 million with mining accounting for 38 percent of the total inflows to Jamaica.