The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has been on a drive to get entrepreneurs to access its services as part of its mandate to help grow the economy. As part of this thrust, it has been setting up lending facilities to lower the cost of capital, and has hosted numerous workshops across the island.

But entrepreneurs still are not utilising the full depth of its services.

Edison Galbraith, general manager for Loan Origination and Portfolio Management at the DBJ, explained in an interview with the Jamaica Observer what is happening in the entrepreneurial sector of the country.

Dennise Williams (DW): Why do you say there is more than enough money in Jamaica, yet access to capital is a problem?

Edison Galbraith (EG): Three reasons 1) Jamaica’s banking sector has assets of over $1.3 trillion of which less than 50% is in loans 2) Regular Jamaicans spend over $40 billion each year on lottery games and betting 3) New listings on the Jamaica Stock Exchange are routinely oversubscribed. This indicates that money is looking for opportunities to invest with a reasonable assurance they will get back their principal and make a return.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-report/more-than-enough-money-in-jamaica-8212-it-8217-s-access-to-capital-that-8217-s-the-problem_132839