News

Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce is set to lead a delegation of over 60 public/private sector representatives on a business mission to Guyana and Suriname to expose them to exporting opportunities for Jamaican goods and services and facilitate linkages. To date, 41 persons have indicated that they will participate in the mission to Guyana and 32 for Suriname.

The business mission, which is set to take place from May 12 to 18, is a part of an ongoing strategy to lead export-focused ministerial missions as Minister Hill continues to advocate for local companies to seek expansion and export opportunities to both lessen the country’s import-export trade gap and bolster further economic growth.

“When Jamaican companies thrive, our nation flourishes, and the well-being of our citizens is improved. It’s imperative that we continually enhance our capabilities as manufacturers of goods and crafters of ingenious services. By increasing our productivity, we position ourselves to enter global markets and showcase Jamaican excellence worldwide. We expect positive benefits from these missions that will strengthen our economy,” Minister Hill stated.

The current delegation spans a mix of small and large companies, across priority sectors including manufacturing, agro-processing/agribusiness, mining, technology and the services industry. Government entities such as the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ), the HEART/NSTA Trust, as well as Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) will also participate.

Following previous missions to Guyana (2) and other countries, Jamaican businesses have achieved successful outcomes, benefitting the Jamaican economy.

During the second mission to Guyana in 2023, there were over 250 business-to-business meetings for the private sector companies with several companies securing export contracts, particularly in limestone aggregates and technology services.

This will be the first Ministerial mission to Suriname, one of the major trading partners with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In 2021, Jamaica exported US$6.09 million to the country, paving the way for further business opportunities.

Suriname’s economy relies heavily on its natural resources, most notably bauxite.  There are export opportunities for Jamaican manufactured goods including food items.

The country, like Guyana, is a member of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) trade agreement which removes restrictions on the movement of goods and services, most skilled labour, and capital within the region.

Mrs. Shullette Cox, President of JAMPRO is optimistic that these missions will generate fruitful partnerships that will foster export growth across the sectors.

“We continue to witness a consistent climb in demand for goods and services across our priority sectors and Jamaica stands ready to meet these demands. Similar to our previous missions, JAMPRO, along with our partner agencies, is looking forward to facilitating these partnerships,” she said.

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce alongside its agencies and departments, remains committed to fostering an enabling business environment while facilitating and promoting growth opportunities for Jamaican businesses.