Kingston, Jamaica -The highly anticipated EXPORTAcademy was officially launched on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the S Hotel Kingston, marking a transformative milestone in Jamaica’s business landscape. The event was attended by key private and public sector players. The Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, delivered the keynote address.
As the first-of-its-kind training portal in the region, this innovative EXPORTAcademy portal is designed to empower both new and experienced exporters with the critical knowledge and skills needed to navigate international markets successfully. Through an export readiness diagnostic assessment, dynamic training modules, and a resourced export library, the academy aims to enable Jamaican entrepreneurs with the knowledge required for sustainable export growth.
The launch of EXPORTAcademy builds on The TBL’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, following the successes of the Jamaica Trade Information Portal (JTIP) and EXPORTJamaica. EXPORTAcademy is set to become a game-changer in the Jamaican export sector. It will provide easily accessible, customized export training and opportunities to facilitate interactive webinars, expert-led training sessions, and a repository of training resources.
Dr. (Maj.) Hugh Blake, Trade Administrator and CEO of The Jamaica Trade Board Limited, proudly declared the agency’s commitment to trade facilitation through digital innovation:
“At The Jamaica Trade Board Limited, we recognize that knowledge is the key to unlocking Jamaica’s export potential. Through platforms like JTIP and EXPORTJamaica, we have empowered businesses with data, market access, and strategic trade advantages. EXPORTAcademy is the next step in this digital revolution - bridging the knowledge gap for our exporters and making trade education more accessible than ever before. EXPORTAcademy goes beyond theory, it offers a dynamic, customizable, hands-on approach to training and export readiness. The academy underscores our commitment to fostering an export-driven economy by ensuring that every business, no matter its size, has the knowledge and confidence to compete on the world stage. We are eager to get our MSMEs export ready through training!”
Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, in delivering his remarks highlighted the significance of EXPORTAcademy within the broader context of Jamaica’s economic advancement.
“EXPORTAcademy stands as a vital pillar in strengthening Jamaica’s economic resilience, equipping our businesses with the knowledge and tools to navigate evolving global trade dynamics. The initiatives of the Jamaica Trade Board, which include EXPORTJamaica, a global market intelligence and compliance portal, are equipping Jamaican exporters with the tools to stay competitive, drive innovation, and capitalize on new opportunities in the global marketplace.”
Also speaking at the launch, Mrs. Kelli-Dawn Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), commended The TBL’s forward-thinking approach:
“Jamaica is expanding as a hub for trade and investment, and initiatives like EXPORTAcademy provide our businesses with the training and knowledge they need to capitalize on global opportunities. This is a testament to The TBL’s dedication to growth and innovation in international trade.”
Mr. Harold Davis, Managing Director of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), highlighted that:
"The launch of EXPORTAcademy is a bold step forward by the Government of Jamaica in supporting Jamaican exporters. It ensures that our MSMEs, who are the backbone of our economy, have access to practical trade knowledge and resources that will enable them to scale up and succeed internationally.”
With unwavering confidence and a deep passion for designing and developing software programs, Mr. Jason Mills, Manager of Systems Engineering and Programming at The TBL and lead developer behind EXPORTAcademy, emphasized the platform’s resourcefulness, versatility, and evolvability. “EXPORTAcademy will evolve with technology and changing trade contexts, ensuring perpetual relevance to exporters”, Mr. Mills said.
The launch event provided an overview of the academy’s robust training modules. Attendees expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, highlighting its potential to transform local businesses into international powerhouses.
EXPORTAcademy is now open for registration, offering a free, online customized training to registrants.The EXPORTAcademy can be accessed at www.exportacademyja.com.
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About The Jamaica Trade Board Limited
The Jamaica Trade Board is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC) whose mission is to efficiently support Jamaica’s economic development by contributing to an enabling ecosystem for trade growth and development, increased local and foreign investments, and sustained job creation: through the provision of relevant trade-related information, the issuance, and regulation of trade licenses and certification, consistent with the government's trade policies and agreements.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Roshane Reid (Ms.)
Director, Public Education & Public Relations
rreid@tradeboard.gov.jm
876-452-0130 | 