KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) have partnered on a special programme aimed at increasing the trade of Jamaican goods and services in the UK and wider European markets during the 22-month period leading up to the Olympics Games in London in 2012.
This new initiative, which will invite the business world to “Meet Jamaica @ London 2012”, will be officially launched at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Wednesday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. Prime Minister Bruce Golding, the guest speaker, will headline a list of government ministers, private sector leaders and representatives of other interest groups who are scheduled to attend the event.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding (file photo)
The global brand platform afforded by the 2012 Olympics in London has set the stage for this timely private-public sector collaboration, which will feature a promotional programme of investment and trade missions, as well as consumer-oriented events that will solidly connect Jamaica and the UK. The missions and events are slated to take place in London – home to the largest concentration of members of the Jamaican Disapora in the world, Coventry and Birmingham, the host city for the Jamaican Olympic team. These three cities are home to over 65% of the Caribbean Diaspora in the UK.
President of JAMPRO, Mrs. Sancia Bennett Templer, stated that, “The main objective of this national promotion is to leverage Brand Jamaica against the background of the country’s participation in the Olympic Games in 2012.”
Joseph Matalon, president of the PSOJ, stated that this “One Jamaica” initiative will provide national synergies for Jamaican businesses to set a new level of trade and investment with Europe and the rest of the world. Matalon added that the event will, “establish a unified approach to building strategic trade alliances with our UK partners, which will provide long lasting benefits beyond London 2012.”
The key PSOJ stakeholders include GraceKennedy, LIME, Red Stripe, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Jablum, Digicel, Wray & Nephew, National Continental Baking Company and Jamaica Producers Limited. Chairman of the PSOJ Trade Policy Committee and General Manager of JNBS, Earl Jarrett, said that this is an opportunity to promote Jamaican music, cuisine, coffee, beer, rums, fashions and manufactured goods, as well as highlight opportunities to do business in Jamaica.
“Olympics 2012 presents a great nexus between sports, culture, business and our great Jamaican brands,” Mr. Jarrett stated.
Companies with strategic interests in the UK and European markets have committed to work with JAMPRO, the PSOJ, the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, and the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), to achieve the objectives of the Meet Jamaica in London 2012 initiative.
