Strong turnout expected for Jamaica International Exhibition

More than 80 exhibiters and 140 buyers from the Caribbean and other countries are expected to attend the 2nd annual Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE), slated for the Montego Bay Convention Centre from May 30 to June 1.

The President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) Metry Seaga, says the second staging of the biennial trade show promises to be huge and will afford exhibitors the opportunity of selling to local buyers.

“There are large-scale economic changes currently going on in our country where there are good opportunities for bold business activity. Our aim is to make the JIE the centre of this activity, not only for Jamaica, but for the Caribbean,” the JMEA President said.

Seaga said while there is marked improvement in the production and export timeline, there is little room for complacency.

“There is much more work to be done, undoubtedly. But Jamaica has made some noteworthy strides in supporting the industry. We see the impressive tax cuts recently announced by the Finance Minister, and also the public procurement reform that the JMEA has forcefully pursued over the last 5 years, finally coming into effect on the first of this month,” he further stated.

He noted that the new procurement regime allows for set-asides, which reserve a portion of the annual procurement budget for Jamaican micro, small and medium-sized suppliers; and domestic margins of preference, which give preferential treatment to Jamaican suppliers in accessing government procurement contracts in specific circumstances.

“This is something we have fought very hard for and we are pleased to see it finally come to fruition. Additionally, the Jamaica Customs Agency is currently working on implementing a single window for trade which will provide a single entry point for all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements. Next month, we will see the launch of the Trade Information Portal (TIP) which is, in essence, a one-stop shop where we will be able to access all information relating to trade,” the JMEA President further stated.

Seaga said these will enhance the potential for Jamaicans to compete for larger shares of government procurement contracts and promote ease of transaction and knowledge acquisition to undertake import and export. “It is against this background that the JIE becomes such a ‘must’. It’s a must for the region, it’s a must for the country and it should be a must for every Jamaican business owner, no matter the sector,” he further argued.

Additionally, Seaga said: “We have buyers registered who are interested in information technology and communication as well as business process outsourcing (BPO); we have almost a dozen buyers interested in construction; approximately the same amount interested in printing, packaging and labelling as well as tourism; almost 20 buyers interested in chemicals, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals; over 30 interested in beverages; nearly 60 buyers interested in food, agro-processing, processed foods and agriculture.”

Source: Jamaica Information Service