Jamaica is navigating increasingly extreme climate impacts — and their multiplier effect on economic and social health. Janis Williams, Senior Director-Legal, at Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) shares how JSEZA is ensuring the country's sustainable development: job growth in harmony with social and environmental wellness. 

The urgent need for sustainable development is spurring nations to seek innovative strategies that will foster economic growth while minimizing impact on our global climate. For Jamaica, this is a top priority as we navigate increasingly extreme climate impacts — and their multiplier effect on economic and social health.

In the context of a top performing stock exchange and strong tourism and real estate industries, we are positioning the country as an ideal place to do business while innovating for sustainable development. And as the nation with the seventh largest natural harbor, we have made great strides in preserving our natural infrastructure even while we face natural disasters and increasing temperatures. 

After the 2015 adoption by the Jamaican government of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their integration into Jamaican public policy and the business environment is advancing opportunities to invest in responsible business development.

Sustain-a-Livity 

The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) has translated the SDGs into a strategic goal of ‘sustain-a-livity’ to inspire and drive responsible business. Sustain-a-livity is a concept that promotes and encourages sustainable development across Jamaica’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) regime.

Threaded throughout our SEZ framework, our sustain-a-livity agenda is helping to create a facilitative environment for investment, trade, and economic development. The concept speaks to the balance of achieving sustainable development: job growth and innovation in harmony with the stewardship of social and environmental wellness. 

Jamaica’s SEZ Authority was established in 2016 through the Special Economic Zones Act and is responsible for the promotion and regulation of special economic zones in Jamaica. SEZs are specific geographic areas earmarked for development and business activity and its stakeholder organizations receive incentives in exchange for investment, development, and the provision of employment. As a government company, the JSEZA therefore facilitates trade and investment in keeping with certain requirements laid out by law. To do this successfully, JSEZA has adopted a multifaceted approach encompassing policy development, capacity building, and monitoring mechanisms. Applicants to the JSEZA must account for the impact their business will have on the economy, society, and the environment — and demonstrate that the net impact is in the best interest of Jamaica in order to benefit from those incentives.

The cornerstone of our sustainability strategy is a robust regulatory framework. We work together with other government ministries, departments, and agencies to establish guidelines and monitor various aspects of environmental management, including water conservation, air quality, and land use. These regulations ensure that SEZ Developers adhere to strict environmental standards, maximizing resource efficiency while minimizing their ecological footprint.

Business Acceleration Centre

JSEZA offers support to its stakeholder businesses through its Business Acceleration Centre (BAC), which acts as a ‘one-stop shop’. The BAC provides capacity building, training initiatives, and communication campaigns that help to educate stakeholders and provide them with the knowledge and tools to implement or expand their sustainable practices. By empowering stakeholders with the necessary resources and support, JSEZA helps to catalyze the adoption of sustainable processes within the SEZ regime.

Regulating Sustainability Impacts

As a regulator, the JSEZA maintains a vigilant oversight mechanism to monitor and enforce compliance, including those with sustainability requirements. The Authority assesses ongoing operations against established benchmarks and identifies areas for improvement through audits and inspections — as well as through collaboration with stakeholders eager to improve their offerings and comply with standards. This proactive approach facilitates the continuous improvement and optimization of sustainability practices and ensures adherence to regulatory standards.

JSEZA is particularly proud of its Self-Reporting and Monitoring Instrument (SRMI). The SRMI is a tool used to measure and monitor performance and adherence to standards by its stakeholder businesses. Importantly, the tool requires stakeholders to share the responsibility of compliance and focuses the priorities of investors to align with national policy such that both the private and public sector can make strides towards national sustainable development and economic goals. This data is then analyzed by JSEZA and used to determine areas for improvement or advocacy.

Recognizing Excellence

Beyond regulatory compliance, the JSEZA understands the importance of rewarding and recognizing excellent performance. Top performers are recipients of our annual Sustain-a-Livity Awards, which showcase businesses that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to social wellness and environmental stewardship. This and other incentive programs reward sustainable behavior and showcase leading practices that can be emulated across the regime.

The Authority goes further by pursuing global best practices and knowledge sharing networks to remain abreast of emerging trends, regulation, and innovation in sustainable development, allowing for a refinement of its approach over time. This allows us to leverage our partnerships with local and international organizations and sustainability experts to increase our capacity to share with our stakeholders.

A Global Model

Looking ahead, the JSEZA remains committed to advancing sustainability across its regime and throughout the entire SEZ ecosystem. We understand the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental protection and positive social impact, particularly as our global community meets escalating environmental, economic, and social challenges. JSEZA is intent on creating a model for responsible business that serves as a beacon for SEZs globally by promoting a comprehensive approach to sustainability — including all environmental, social, and economic dimensions. We believe that by embracing sustainability as a guiding principle, we can achieve sustain-a-livity as a model for sustainable investment, healthier communities, and happier people.