Continue to build on your solid foundation
I EXTEND warm congratulations to the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) and JAMPRO on the staging of the highly anticipated Expo Jamaica 2016. I am particularly pleased to extend my sincere compliments on the 43rd anniversary of this important biennial trade show that, over these many years, has been an excellent showcase for Jamaica’s finest products and services.
CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS
Expo Jamaica is essential for a wide market including consumers and local and international businesses to appreciate and access the full range of the manufacturing and export trade in Jamaica. It has grown to become the quintessential business place where deals are made and many corporate relationships are built.
It is indeed appropriate that this year, the theme of Expo Jamaica is The Business Hub of the Caribbean. Over the past several years, exceptional effort has been made at the levels of individual businesses, private sector associations and the Government to improve Jamaica’s business climate. The encouraging results have included our country’s vastly improved ranking in the global ease of doing business index and the enviable designation as the Best Caribbean Country in Which to Do Business.
I encourage the JMA, the JEA and JAMPRO to continue their efforts to build further on this solid foundation as we improve business and business related services across the manufacturing and export sectors in Jamaica. In this ongoing drive, you can be assured of my full support and that of the Parliamentary Opposition.
Best wishes for a successful Expo Jamaica 2016. Portia Simpson Miller Opposition Leader
about growth, jobs and raising the standard of living of our people.
As we look towards the future, we see the potential of agriculture in other sectors such as tourism and agro-industries, and as a major economic activity throughout Jamaica.
We see agriculture not only playing a major role in the process of rural development, but also in the export of high-value commodities.
My role as minister, therefore, is to lay the foundation for the renewal of agriculture by placing much greater attention on nurturing new growth areas, and applying new methods and technologies to the way we do business. We must take full advantage of the opportunities, where it is obvious that we have competitive advantage.
In all of this, the role of our manufacturers and exporters is critical, and I urge you to join with us in moving Jamaica to a new stage of development. Now, it is up to us to build local industry, reduce our dependence on imports, and increase productivity. As we will see at Expo Jamaica 2016, many of our small and medium-sized enterprises are doing extraordinary things, but we urgently need to facilitate more of our people following in their footsteps. Working together, we can make the years ahead the most dynamic and successful in our country’s history. There is great hope in the future of our country, and I truly believe that our best years lie ahead of us. Karl Samuda Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries