Jamaica eyeing Barbados market

BARBADOS IS ONE of three major Caribbean markets that have attracted the attention of Jamaican exporters. Next month, JAMPRO, Jamaica’s trade and investment promotions agency, will lead 18 companies on export promotion missions to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas.

And Jamaican officials said it was part of that agency’s strategy to develop Jamaican exporters and increase export to regional markets.

Called The Caribbean Market Mission, the venture is a part of JAMPRO’s export development programme Export Max, and will start in Barbados on June 18 before ending in The Bahamas on June 30.

JAMPRO’s vice-president of export and market development, Robert Scott, said Export Max programme had already provided development services for the enrolled companies to improve their strategic planning, marketing, labelling and productivity.

He explained that the programme is now deepening the market penetration phase with the Caribbean mission.

“At the commencement of the Export Max programme, the participants highlighted the Caribbean region as a key target market of interest as the people of this region share similar tastes and consumption patterns,” he said.

“Based on our assessments and prior partnerships, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas will be the locations for companies to promote Brand Jamaica, and reap the benefit of their development for the past two years.”

Scott added: “We are looking forward to strengthening our Caribbean partnerships, and will be working assiduously to ensure that companies learn about what is in demand in these markets; our aim is to build relationships locally as we increase trade. I am pleased that with the support of our partners, we will make this initiative a reality and hopefully boost Caribbean trade.”

JAMPRO expects the mission to “give companies the opportunity to promote brand Jamaica in the region and increase the export of Jamaican products to regional markets”.

They said participating companies would have scheduled business meetings with buyers to promote their products, execute trade visits to key retail outlets, and have key discussions with private and public sector partners to garner market intelligence.

Source: Nation News

Published Date: June 9th, 2017