Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton, alongside Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) is set to lead a delegation of exporters to the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) scheduled for May 16 – 19, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Trade and Investment Convention 2012 is one of the largest business-to-business events in the region with a focus on business networking and trade. The Convention includes a trade show, a business education programme and multiple networking events. This year, TIC promises to showcase 300 exhibitors from around the globe. The Jamaica exporters participating in TIC under JAMPRO’s ‘Meet Jamaica Pavilion’ include Wynlee Group Ltd, Porters Jamaican Ltd, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Export Division, Jamaican Teas, P.A. Benjamin, Island Coffees, Sue Tru Caribbean and Southside Distributors.
The Minister’s visit to Trinidad for TIC is to further cement the developing relationship between the two countries following up on the recent visit of Minister of Trade and Industry for Trinidad & Tobago Stephen Cadiz, for Expo Jamaica 2012. On Friday, May 4, 2012 Minister Hylton met with exporters interested in the Trinidad and Tobago market as well as members of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) and the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA), at the offices of JAMPRO to discuss the importance of reducing Jamaica’s trade imbalance with Trinidad and the need to increase local exports to that viable market.
JAMPRO is collaborating with private sector organizations such as the JMA and JEA, who will be working with other manufacturers including Seprod, Lasco and Mac’s Pharmaceuticals to ensure a strong Jamaican presence at the trade show. Jamaica has participated in TIC for the last two years and this has served to build interest in local products. According to Berletta Henlon Forrester, JAMPRO’s Export Promotion Manager, this mission is strategic and timely coming on the heels of Expo Jamaica. “We’re noting increased awareness and interest in Jamaican products, as evidenced by the strong delegation of Trinidadian business persons attending our own Expo Jamaica this year,” Henlon Forrester noted.
The need to take advantage of specific market opportunities in Trinidad was also echoed by VP of Trade and Business Development at JAMPRO Ms. Delaine Morgan. Ms. Morgan pointed to Trinidad’s US$600M food import bill which was highlighted by Minister Cadiz in a recent session with Jamaica’s private sector and the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Help Desk in Trinidad to assist Jamaican companies in penetrating that market.
This 2012 mission follows the execution of several initiatives JAMPRO has undertaken to penetrate the Trinidadian market, including two trade missions in 2010 and 2011, participation in TIC and a workshop on ‘Doing Business in Trinidad’ held in September 2011. This event will serve to strengthen linkages between businesses in both countries to encourage trade and investment and build on the positive relations which have been forged over the last two years.
The mission is being supported by Mrs. Sharon Saunders, High Commissioner for Jamaica in Trinidad and Tobago.
