SAJE Logistics, Proven Properties break ground on US$13 million Kingston Gateway facility

Developers officially broke ground Friday on a US$13 million (J$2 billion) warehouse facility aimed at expanding Jamaica’s logistics infrastructure.

The Kingston Gateway Commercial and Warehouse Complex, a joint venture between SAJE Logistics Infrastructure Limited and Proven Properties Limited, will be built on nearly four acres at Marcus Garvey Drive, close to Port Bustamante. Designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises involved in global trade, the facility is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity as a logistics and distribution hub.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who delivered the keynote address, hailed the project as emblematic of confidence in Jamaica’s economy and a blueprint for collaborative investment.

“We take this project as a physical symbol of confidence in Jamaica’s growth trajectory – confidence in the resilience and innovation of our private sector, and confidence in partnerships, public and private, that are shaping a modern, prosperous future for our country,” Holness said.

“Kingston Gateway is not only about concrete, steel and glass; it is about connectivity. It is about enabling commerce. It is about unlocking value – economic value, logistical value, and community value.”

Holness also addressed the broader context of global competition, referencing the Dominican Republic’s growing logistics ambitions and calling for greater urgency in removing the “obstacles that dull our competitiveness”, especially in the areas of ease and speed of doing business.

Strategically located near the country’s main shipping terminals and road networks, Kingston Gateway, co-financed by First Global Bank, will serve as the country’s foremost off-port logistics facility.

Kim Clarke, chairman of both SAJE Logistics Infrastructure Limited and Kingston Gateway Limited, described the initiative as “a bold step toward strengthening Jamaica’s position as a premier logistics hub, facilitating businesses that drive commerce and global connectivity.”

He continued, “Its location on Marcus Garvey Drive places it squarely within Jamaica’s most vital logistics arteries, directly linking the Port of Kingston to the country’s robust highway system. This ensures swift access to Jamaica’s major commercial hubs – Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Mandeville, and Morant Bay – as well as our two primary international airports.”

The Kingston Gateway Commercial and Warehouse Complex will feature a total of 21 units, including 17 with dock-high loading bays and four without, spread across two building types. Each unit offers approximately 5,000 square feet of space, designed to accommodate a range of logistics and commercial operations. The modular layout allows early tenants the option to combine multiple units to meet their specific needs. The facility also includes 128 parking spaces to support ease of access and daily operations.

Aisha Campbell, CEO of Proven Properties, echoed the prime minister’s sentiments, stressing the project’s alignment with global logistics trends. “Jamaica’s strategic position as a gateway to the Americas, coupled with booming demand for efficient supply chains, presents an undeniable opportunity. The logistics sector is the backbone of modern commerce. By entering this space, we are not just constructing warehouses, we are building gateways that connect businesses to regional and global markets.”

Speaking to the facility’s locational advantage and strategic design, Campbell said, “It will ensure that businesses can streamline their operations, reduce costs and accelerate delivery times. This is infrastructure designed to optimise supply chains and empower enterprises to compete globally.”

Anthony Hylton, Opposition spokesman on industry, investment and global logistics, offered strong bipartisan support for the initiative. “I have been and remain consistently unequivocal about the central role that logistics plays in improving the competitiveness, agility, flexibility and productivity of businesses, and by extension, the economy. The role for logistics in helping to transform our economy from a low-performing to a high-performing economy is unassailable,” he said, adding, “We welcome this development as both timely and innovative.”

Howard Smith, vice president of First Global Bank, described the project as a timely intervention for businesses navigating Jamaica’s “complex logistics landscape”, adding that Kingston Gateway “is poised to unlock substantial growth potential for our region”.

The project is being delivered by a team that includes architects Atelier Vidal, engineer Hugh Lyew Chin, contractors Landmark Group, with project management by Proven Properties. The project is being jointly marketed by SAJE Property Services Limited and Proven Properties Limited.