Kingston, Jamaica – JAMPRO’s Business Linkages Programme, which achieved positive results at the 2011 Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) tourism trade fair held in Montego Bay, is receiving strong praise from the participating suppliers ahead of this year’s staging of the event in Ocho Rios from September 29 to October 2.
Organized by JAMPRO as a targeted business linkages component of JAPEX, the programme succeeded in bringing together local suppliers and buyers in the tourism industry and ultimately generated contracts valued at over J $100 million.
Managing Director of Pioneer Meats, Mrs. Pauline Wilson said the company secured a number of contracts through the visibility it received from the Linkages Programme.
“We got a lot of visibility especially as a small company. A lot of hotels were not aware of what we had to offer. Two of our major contracts are with Grand Palladium and Iberostar, which are extremely big contracts,” she said.
According to Mrs. Wilson the company’s sales from Grand Palladium and Iberostar stood at J $130 million over a six month period. “We are looking forward to this year. JAMPRO was very professional and checked on us during the show and answered our queries in a timely manner,” Wilson added.
Managing Director of Irie Rock Yaad Spa, Raquel Brown, said her company was not only able to sign two new contracts from JAPEX 2011, but also used the opportunity to introduce new products to the market. She explained, “It was a refreshing experience, well organized and well put together.
It reminded me of one of those international buying trade shows where the buyers were legitimately coming out and ready to do business.”
“Last year we introduced new products to our existing market without having to go out to each hotel individually and this year we have new products to introduce as well. We are planning to target a particular group,” she added.
As a result of being at JAPEX, Barrington Cigars have received contracts with Gran Bahia Principe, Chukka Caribbean, Iberostar and Super Clubs. Margaret Adams, Managing Director of the company said, “The Business Linkages event at JAPEX opened markets for us that might have taken longer for us to penetrate without JAMPRO’s assistance.”
“We signed contracts in December with Grand Bahia Principe and have customized and built three, 8 feet humidor stands for both gift shops which we continue to maintain and supply the humidors and cigars,” she said. “We signed with Chukka Caribbean also in December and have continuously supplied and maintained the humidors we have customized and built for them.”
She added, “There is also the Iberostar Resort, we started negotiations with this resort a few weeks prior to JAPEX 2011, but we believe our presence at JAPEX assisted with the efforts in contract closings. We continue to supply Iberostar and maintain their humidors.”
Chief Executive Officer of Southside Distributors Ltd, Denese Palmer, expounded on her experience saying, “Southside Distributors has reaped tremendous benefits through our participation in JAMPRO’s 2011 Linkages Event. Exhibiting there has proven that it’s the best opportunity to market to the Hospitality sector and we able to secure lucrative contracts. It was also a great networking event and we made lots of connections promoting Southside Distributors Ltd.”
The national investment and trade promotion agency will once again work closely with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in the staging of JAPEX 2012.
Through its targeted Business Linkages programme, JAMPRO has so far confirmed for JAPEX 2012 some 40 local suppliers of a wide range of goods and services including meats, beverages, baked goods, chemicals, cosmetics, sauces and spices, fresh produce, furniture and other manufacturing, gift and craft, uniforms, apparel, ICT and related services.
Over 100 buyers from the hospitality/ tourism sector are expected to meet with suppliers over the three day linkages event and these buyers will represent hotels, villas, gift shops, attractions restaurants and other outlets for the tourism product.
