Following the widespread impact of Hurricane Melissa, the JBDC and EXIM Bank have outlined a coordinated plan to help MSMEs recover quickly and strengthen their operations. The plan includes short-term support to address immediate needs and medium-term actions to restore stability, improve resilience, and provide accessible financing.
Short-Term Actions (0–14 Days):
JBDC & EXIM Bank
- Rapid Client Survey: JBDC and EXIM Bank will deploy an in-depth, Island wide MSME Impact Surveys commencing the week of November 10-14, 2025, once connectivity is substantially restored.
- Client Contact and Mapping: JBDC’s Regional offices will prioritize re-establishing contact with approximately 2,000 active clients across the most affected parishes. EXIM Bank will also contact its portfolio of past and current clients to further assess immediate and short-term needs.
- Emergency MSME Helpline: JBDC will establish a temporary virtual and telephone helpdesk for business queries, guidance, and reporting of urgent needs.
Medium-Term Actions (2–8 Weeks):
JBDC
- “Build Back Stronger” MSME Resilience Programme: A recovery and resilience framework to include business model redesign, financial structuring, and resilience training.
- Partnership Engagement: Immediate dialogue with DBJ, National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica (EX-IM Bank), Access Financial Services, and others have begun to design targeted recovery financing instruments such as micro-grants and concessional loans.
- Business and Technical Support: On-the-ground assessments and business development sessions in collaboration with JBDC’s regional SBDC network.
- Digital Jamaica training intensified: Digital Jamaica will continue its intervention exploring new channels for getting to clients.
EXIM Bank
- Rapid relief assessments and extensions of six-month moratoria on principal and interest for affected EXIM Bank clients in the affected parishes.
- Waivers of late fees.
- Reduced commitment fees for new EXIM-Bank funded facilities.
- Increased funding under EXIM’s Line of Credit (LOC) for Approved Financial Institutions (AFIs) to expand MSME access.
- Extension of short-term loan facilities.
- Capitalization of commitment fees into loan value.
- Hurricane Melissa Capacity-building and climate resilience programmes for MSMEs, in collaboration with other MIIC Agencies/Private Sector Business Associations/Entities.
- Assess and extend loan restructuring to mitigate long-term impacts and reduce monthly obligations.
- Asset Restoration Financing: Concessionary financing to replace damaged equipment, raw materials, and stock.