News

Ministers Daryl Vaz and Audley Shaw yesterday led a delegation to present Jamaican opportunities to Chinese investors, distributors and influencers at the 5-day China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China.

The delegation comprised some of Jamaica’s prominent government authorities, including president of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro), Diane Edwards, and chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority, Metry Seaga.

Jampro and the Embassy of Jamaica in China will display trade and investment opportunities in the Caribbean Pavilion at the Expo.

The delegation is also expected to conduct high-level meetings with Chinese government and private sector officials to further Jamaican and Chinese business relations. The Jamaica Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (JMEA), of which Seaga also sits as president, will simultaneously promote Jamaican companies in a Corporate Pavilion.

CIIE is one of China’s largest international events for countries to promote their interest in doing business with China. Hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China in partnership with the World Trade Organization, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, CIIE is expected to attract representatives from over 100 countries and 150,000 domestic and foreign professional buyers. To ensure the island’s participation at CIIE, the Chinese government funded the Jamaican delegation’s attendance at the event.

China is expected to import products and services valuing more than US$10 trillion over the next five years, opening opportunities for trade with Jamaica. Recently, Jamaica received approval to export lobster to China, but Jampro’s Edwards believes the country can do more.

“While Jamaica is China’s main provider of goods from the Caribbean, we recognise that there is more to be done to increase exports to the country, and Asia on the whole, and capitalise on the great diplomatic relationships we have with countries in that region,” she said.

Edwards added that the event would be used as a tool to relay Jamaica’s readiness for international investments from Asia, and to further discussions on various ongoing investment projects and opportunities in Jamaica.

“Jamaica has a diverse offering of products that we believe would be successful in China. With our strategic focus on China as a market with untapped potential for exports, we hope to increase the presence of Brand Jamaica in China and support the penetration of our country’s products in that market,” the president said.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Published Date: November 6th, 2018