The BIAJ is committed to promoting literacy and the reading habit as tools for national development, economic growth and educational excellence.

 

Founded in June 1989, the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ) was first conceived and presided over by Mrs. Shirley Carby (Carlong Publishers), the organization's first President.

 

The BIAJ was established as an umbrella organization to promote the interests of the local book trade and ensure its balanced and integrated development.

 

Unlike traditional Booksellers Associations or Publishers Associations, this unique structure evolved in Jamaica as pooling resources was essential - due to the small size of the local industry.

 

The BIAJ recognizes the importance of an indigenous book industry to the development of the human resources of the country and wishes to play its part in the enrichment of its culture and advancement of its people.

 

The BIAJ was incorporated under the Companies Act on June 12th, 2001.

 

 

Originally grouped into the four (4) sub-sectors of Publishing, Production, Promotion and Distribution, the publishing and production sectors were subsequently combined with the recent decline of the local book printing industry.