The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) will be hosting its 15th National Investor Education Week (NIEW) during the period of October 14 – 20, 2023. under the theme “Overcoming Financial Obstacles: Making Smart Investment Decisions”
General
The NIEW is a planned week of activities that are designed to assist the public by raising awareness about the importance of investor education and protection covered by securities regulations. The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shock waves throughout the world economy and triggered one of the largest economic and financial crises the world has ever seen. The economic impacts of the pandemic were especially severe in developing economies like Jamaica which experienced in addition to the loss of many lives, a rise in unemployment, several business closures, and a sharp decline in income and business revenue. Many households experienced total depletion of their cash reserve as they were unprepared for such a magnitude of an epidemic. The NIEW is a forum through which the JSE, the listed companies, stockbrokers, and other players in the financial industry converge to offer advice and solutions to navigate this challenging financial climate and stimulate financial recovery and new wealth creation.
Background to NIEW
The NIEW was launched in 2007 by the JSE with a mandate to educate the population on the importance of savings and investments as the way to wealth creation. The Stock Exchange recognized that investment in financial knowledge pays the best dividend and that people who are financially literate generally make better savings and investment decisions. Economists worldwide agree that savings and investments by individuals are important both for personal wealth creation and economic growth. The JSE through the NIEW is playing its part to encourage these very important principles in the decision-making of all possible market participants.
Rationale
The NIEW aims to educate and encourage Jamaicans of all demographics to become more financially literate and more knowledgeable about the products, services, and processes in the financial markets and to be well informed to make the best financial decisions that will over time improve their prosperity.
The Objectives of NIEW Week:
The JSE will be partnering with businesses in the financial community and wider corporate Jamaica to educate the public with the following goals and objectives:
- Benefits of sound savings and investments in the Stock Market
- Power of diversification into multiple sectors through the Stock Market
- Knowledge of the products and services in the markets
- Access and conversations with financial experts
- Power of building wealth incrementally by investing in a child’s education from an early age
- How to build and create generational wealth
- Understanding the importance of generational wealth
NIEW Schedule of Activities
The planned week of activities will run as follows:
| Dates | Activities |
| Saturday, October 14, 2023 | Church Service Spanish Town SDA 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | Youth Forum & Stock Market Games Award Ceremony JSE Multi-Purpose Center, 40 Harbour Street -10:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday, October 18, 2023 | Outside Broadcast & Open House JSE Multi-Purpose Center, 40 Harbour Street -10:00 a.m. |
| Thursday, October 19, 2023 | She Leads Women’s Conference JSE Multi-Purpose Center, 40 Harbour Street – 8:00 a.m. |
| Friday, October 20, 2023 | Launch of Primary School’s Stock Market Education Programme & Stock Market Game JSE Multi-Purpose Center, 40 Harbour Street – 9:00 a.m. |
Church Service
The week of activities will commence with a church service that serves multiple purposes: as a means of asking for God’s blessing, sensitizing a captive audience to the week’s activities, and inspiring the collaborating NIEW team:
Outside Broadcast (OB)
The objectives are to:
- Assist Jamaicans to understand the importance of generational wealth
- Benefits of investing in the markets
- Increase brand awareness
- Lifting the profile of the JSE and its partners within Jamaica and the Diaspora
- Educate the market on the products and services available to them
This OB will offer practical advice to the listening public on how to make savings and investment decisions during difficult times. Our partners will offer non-financial and financial advice on what is generational wealth and how you can build it. The discussions will dive into the benefits of creating a legacy in business and investing in your child’s education early as key factors in creating generational wealth. The investment houses will be on hand to speak about their investment-type products.
Youth Forum
This activity is geared towards attracting the younger generation into the market and sharing simple steps that they can follow to make sound financial decisions. The younger generation will be taught how to choose sound financial products that will create long-term wealth and to understand that the earlier they start to save and invest, the easier it is to accumulate wealth.
Open House
The JSE will host a full-day interactive “Open House”, where representatives from participating listed companies, stockbrokers, and industry experts will deliver presentations on the various products and services available to assist the participants in making strategic financial decisions that will facilitate wealth creation.
She Leads Women’s Conference
Theme: Mental Wellness and Women in Leadership
The “She Leads Women’s Conference is a one-day event designed to inspire and empower women in business and leadership roles. The conference will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and exhibitors showcasing products and services relevant to women in business.
This conference seeks to destigmatize discussions around mental health and create a supportive environment where women can openly address their challenges and learn practical techniques to enhance their mental wellness.
Launch of Primary Schools Stock Market Education Programme & Stock Market Game
The JSE and its partners will be using this entertaining and interactive event to educate staff and students of Primary and Prep Schools on the value of investing in the stock market and the importance of starting to save at an early age. Our mascot “Stocky the Bull” will be on hand to meet and greet the children and present them with Stocky the Bull tokens. The JSE plans to involve as many primary and prep schools across the various parishes and hopes to accomplish this during the school year.
