MIAMI – President of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), Robert Gregory told the USA-based Jamaican Consular Corp that they were viable partners, and it was the firm resolve of JTI to deepen those relationships in the continuous mission to promote Brand Jamaica.
Speaking at a recent forum of the overseas Missions’ staff of Consuls General and Honorary Consuls to the region, hosted by the Jamaican Ambassador to the United States in Fort Lauderdale, His Excellency Ambassador Anthony Johnson, Mr. Gregory indicated the strengthening of the partnership to greater impact the effort to attract jobs and wealth creating investments, and secure lucrative markets for quality Brand Jamaican products.
Robert Gregory
According to Mr. Gregory, in 2007, US $866.5 million was facilitated by the JTI and other agencies involved in attracting investments.
While the big earners were information communication technology and tourism, other credible performers included mining, minerals and the chemical sector, agriculture, manufacturing and distribution.
Reiterating that the JTI is redoubling its efforts to focus on bringing greater levels of investments in those areas, Mr. Gregory called on the Missions partnership to assist the JTI in its achievement, stressing the critical need to earn increasing volumes of investment income for the Jamaican economy.
Referring to Jamaica’s performance as a destination for foreign direct investment, he said that the significant investments made in ensuring the island’s adequate infrastructure has given us a huge competitive advantage in the region. This, he continued has been constantly acclaimed by the trade journal – FDI magazine – as being the “Best Investment Plan and Strategy” in the Caribbean.
Realizing the importance of the investment in infrastructure to the advancement of the island’s economy, Mr. Gregory spoke of record inflows of foreign direct investment mainly in tourism over the last three years. In an effort to ensure sustainable development arising from the inflows from foreign investment, he also encouraged growth in local direct investments to also attract jobs and wealth creation.
Regarding doing business in Jamaica, Mr. Gregory spoke of the challenges encountered ranking us globally 63 out of 181 economies. He indicated that urgent attention is needed in this regard “as we seek to cut through the bureaucracy that hobbles so much of business.” Meanwhile, JTI has developed, as part of their promotional efforts, a Directory of Investment and Business Opportunities, which lists an array of investment projects across all sectors of the economy.
The objective of the two day event was to bring together the overseas Consular offices to address the Government’s mandate on economic development, trade and investment, international relations in the communities within their jurisdiction, strengthening relations with the Diaspora as well as inter-relations with government to government agencies including the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) and the JTI.
