KINGSTON (OPM) ~ JIS
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Prime Minister Bruce Golding (right) makes an amusing comment to Omar Azan (left), President of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association. Occasion was the launch of National Export Strategy by Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Thursday (Apr. 24). Sharing the moment are Raymond Myles of JTI (2nd l) and Hector Jones, Commissioner of Customs (2nd r). Standing behind the Prime Minister is Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment, Karl Samuda.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the tourism industry should be treated as part of the export sector, as the products and services are consumed locally by foreigners who visit the island. He said that in developing a national export strategy for Jamaica, consideration should be given to the creation of a marketing company to identify markets and bridge the gap between local producers of goods and services and markets overseas.

Mr. Golding was speaking today (April 24) at the launch of the National Export Strategy at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The strategy is the result of collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders in the export industry including Jamaica Trade and Invest, the Jamaica Exporters Association, the Jamaica Manufacturers Association and Jamaica Customs.

The Prime Minister said product marketability is crucial to any export strategy as producers must be guided by international standards and market goods at the right price. He stressed the need for the application of information technology to the country's marketing strategy, adding that this offers tremendous potential for the export sector. In this regard, Mr. Golding said the government was seeking to make this possible by establishing the legislative framework for the introduction of cyber commerce to Jamaica. He said a bill has been drafted and should shortly be brought to Cabinet for discussion.

Mr. Golding said many marketing and trade opportunities are available for Jamaican exporters, despite the changes and challenges in a global marketplace where all trading activity must be World Trade Organization (WTO) compliant. He said exporters must understand the world in which they operate and see what strategies can be taken to create additional markets. He said that while Jamaica is not a mass producer of goods, as the production process worldwide had become increasingly segmented, there are opportunities for local manufactures to get involved in producing different segments of a product.

Mr. Golding said local producers have a lot of catching up to do given the seamless and borderless world in which they must operate. He said the national export strategy will therefore require the commitment of all stakeholders if brand Jamaica is to become prominent abroad.

In endorsing the national export strategy, the leadership of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association, Jamaica Exporters Association said it is a consensus that will guide the way forward, especially at a time when our markets are under threat. They welcomed the emphasis being placed on exports particularly in light of globalization which has redefined trade boundaries.

In the meantime, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment Karl Samuda, said his ministry would be paying particular attention to the matter of business facilitation, to ensure that people who want to get into business can get to do what they do best.

The National Export Strategy is a unified approach to advance the competitiveness of firms and sectors, while enhancing the local business and trade environment in order to improve Jamaica's export competitiveness. It will be monitored by a National Export Consultative Council involving representatives of the public and private sector. The initiative has been endorsed by the International Trade Centre of the UNCTAD/WTO. The organization will provide technical assistance to the process but will not become involved in the development of the strategy.