Kingston, Jamaica -In an effort to enhance the trade relationship between Cuba and Jamaica, the country’s national trade and investment agency JAMPRO will be hosting a delegation of Cuban government and business entities from July 8-10, 2014.
The delegation includes companies from key sectors such as construction, manufacturing, health, art, literature, export and culture. During the mission the delegation will meet with Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton and Minster of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, A. J. Nicholson. They will also participate in a number of business-to-business meetings and site visits.
According to Vice President of Export and Market Development at JAMPRO, Robert Scott this trade mission aligns with the agency’s efforts to increase the presence of Brand Jamaica in the Caribbean and Latin American region. He said, “JAMPRO has identified Cuba as a market with great potential for Jamaican products, and we are accelerating our engagement with the relevant stakeholders in order to grow our exports to Cuba”
This mission is one of many strategies utilised by the agency to build business relationships with Cuba having participated in the Feria Internacional de Habana (FIHAV) trade show for the last six years. According to JAMPRO’s Manager of Market Development Berletta Henlon Forrester, the agency has facilitated a number of exporters seeking to enter the Cuban market and hopes to realize the real results of these efforts to increase trade between Jamaica and Cuba.
She said, “The changing Cuban market represents a significant trading opportunity for Jamaica, being one of its closest neighbours with a history of social and cultural connections. Our exporters are able to supply a number of the products demanded by Cuba’s 11 Million population, as well the growing tourism market. This mission is just one of the initiatives being employed to address the trade gap which currently exists.”
The trade mission will comprise delegates representing: the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba, Promociones Artisticas Y Literarias – Artex, Labiofam, International Havana Centre (CIH), BK Import Export, Centis, Quimimport, Escenarte, Egrem, Ministry of Culture (Mincult), Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex).
