Almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption to global supply chains is arguably getting worse, with shipping crisis being a major issue, as transit times have increased and costs have gone up as global production has been impacted as a result of the COVID-19 contagion. That is troubling news for retailers and consumers, in an economy as heavily reliant on imports as Jamaica’s.

Is there an opportunity to establish Jamaica as a more important node in global trade? As big players in various sectors relocate operations closer to markets.

Could the shipping crisis prompt a local manufacturing boom?

John Mahfood, President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Michael Leckie, President of the Small Business Association of Jamaica, (SBAJ) joined the CVM Live Panel Discussion to share on the topic shipping crisis and its implications.