Competitiveness Forum set for Jamaica in March

The Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness (CCfC), Salises, University of the West Indies (UWI), is partnering with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica to host the Second Caribbean Competiveness Forum, March 18-19, at UWI’s Mona Campus in Jamaica. The first Caribbean Competitiveness Forum was held in Port-of-Spain in 2012.

The 2014 theme, Beyond the Solutions: Competitiveness through Global Value Chains, Clustering and Innovation, focuses on four critical areas identified by regional governments as sectors with significant potential for growth-services, agro-processing, manufacturing and emerging industries. Vice-Chancellor Nigel E Harris said while the main target audience is private sector enterprises, active participation from other key stakeholders such as the public sector, academia and non-governmental institutions is expected.

Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and learn from real regional success stories. In this way they will take away practical lessons and gain insight into marketing, export and distribution strategies from the region’s best. Clinics conducted after each forum session will allow participants to develop solutions to problems that are faced by their companies through a collaborative process facilitated by industry experts.

Indera Sagewan-Alli, CCfC director, said there will be exposure to the importance of clustering, value chain analysis and innovation to business development. In addition, participants will be able to strengthen and build regional networks during the two days. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be given the opportunity to showcase and market their range of products in the booth spaces provided at the venue.

For further information and email the Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness at UWI at ccfc@sta.uwi.edu, or visit www.uwi.edu/ccfc to register.

Source: Trinidad Guardian

Published Date: January 25th, 2014