Small Firms, Big Prospects: JSE Micro Market Set to Launch in Q2 2026

  • Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness recently underscored the Government of Jamaica’s commitment to pursuing deliberate and far-reaching financial sector and capital market reforms to support economic recovery, resilience, and long-term national development, as the country rebounds from the effects of Hurricane Melissa.
  • Speaking at the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s 21st Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference, held January 20-22, 2026, the Prime Minister said the reform agenda will be anchored in lower public debt, strong external reserves, and increasingly sophisticated domestic capital markets.
  • Holness emphasised that Jamaica’s improved macroeconomic fundamentals require a modern regulatory framework, one that safeguards financial stability while enabling growth. The reform will be purposeful and responsible, aligning regulatory oversight with evolving risk profiles and financial innovation, while positioning capital markets to play a more dynamic role in national development.
  • Building on this vision of deeper and more inclusive capital markets, Finance Minister Fayval Williams, at the same conference, announced that the JSE Micro Market is expected to be fully operational by the second quarter of this year. A move aimed at expanding access to financing for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and broadening participation in Jamaica’s capital markets. This timeline aligns with commitments made during the Government of Jamaica’s 2025/2026 Annual Budget Debate in March 2025.
  • The JSE Micro Market will target MSMEs seeking equity financing in the J$10Mn–J$50Mn range, enabling businesses to scale, expand operations, and contribute more meaningfully to economic growth. According to the Micro Market Steering Committee, the initiative could facilitate up to 25 listings within its first two years.
  • Overall, the MSME sector remains a cornerstone of Jamaica’s economic structure, accounting for more than 90% of all enterprises and employing between 60% and 70% of the local workforce. Additionally, the sector is estimated to have contributed 44% of gross domestic product (GDP) and nearly 12% of total tax revenues last year.

(Sources: OPM, JIS, JSE)