The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) based in Jamaica has appointed Dr. Geneive Brown Metzger, trade and investment analyst and former consul general in New York, as chair of its International Committee. The CMI is a key partner with the government of Jamaica, in the development of the highly anticipated Logistic Hub in Jamaica, which is an international gateway of economic trade.
The Chinese government, among other major investors from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, are currently in negotiation with the Jamaican government around large-scale investments in a range of sectors.
The International Committee, which includes Erica Simmons, executive at Siemens, will lead CMI’s global outreach and focus initially on strategic partnership, including tertiary and training collaboration, in the U.S. and China.
The Hub, Jamaica’ response to the expansion of the Panama Canal, is slated to be the biggest industrial development in Jamaica since bauxite, which defined the Jamaican economy from 1950 to 1970.
Jamaica’ s geo-strategic positioning could put its Logistic Hub in a class with Singapore, Dubai and Rotterdam. The 2014 World Bank logistics industry ranking showed Jamaica improved significantly, leaping 54 spaces to 70th out of 160 nation.
CMI’s Executive Director, Dr. Fritz Pinnock, also serves as chairman of the Logistic Hub subcommitte on education and training. Dr. Brown Metzger is currently forging tertiary partnerships on behalf of the CMI in the U. S. to assist Jamaica in training the cadre of professionals essential to the running of the Hub. “The challenge is one of capacity for the CMI and other training institutions in Jamaica as they race to have in place persons with particular skills to fill key position in the Hub,” says Dr. Brown Metzger. “Jamaica doesn’t want to have to import foreigners to fill the key positions,” she says.
According to Dr. Pinnnock, “The CMI couldn’t have a more qualified professional and passionate advocate at the helm of its international program.” “We have gained so much from Dr. Brown Metzger’s expertise and connection already and are delighted to have her on board,” Dr. Pinnock continued.
The CMI International Committee will launch this fall in New York.
