Gov’t to Release MSME Procurement Set-Aside List by End of July

  • Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, has announced that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) will release by the end of July, the list of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) selected under the Government’s 20 per cent Set-Aside Programme. She made the announcement during the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) Growth and Resilience Conference, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (July 16).
  • The 20 per cent Set-Aside Programme is designed to increase the participation of small businesses in the Government’s procurement process and provide them with the support needed to take advantage of available opportunities. The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, is also expected to disseminate the Guidance Notes to procuring entities by the end of August 2026.
  • The Guidance Notes “is an official document issued to ministries, departments, and agencies to explain specific procedures. In this instance, it will be the procedures to activate the procurement set aside on behalf of the small businesses all across Jamaica”. Mrs. Williams noted that the allocation is essential for Jamaica’s small-business sector, which remains a critical contributor to national development through the creation of employment opportunities.
  • She also highlighted the resilience of the sector despite the various challenges that have affected Jamaica over the years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes and global economic disruptions. Nevertheless, the Minister envisions significant growth for the sector over the next decade. The one-day conference, held under the theme ‘Rebuilding the MSME   Sector: A National Imperative for 2026 and Beyond’, brought together stakeholders and partners to advance discussions and drive actionable solutions aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s small-business sector, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of employment in Jamaica.

(Sources: JIS)