Jamaica: ministro y empresarios realizan visita comercial a Cuba
Jamaican trade mission to visit Cuba this week
In a bid to increase export of Jamaican goods and services, minister of industry, investment and commerce, Anthony Hylton, is leading 18 Jamaican companies on a trade mission to Cuba from April 20 to 23.
Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has been working with delegates to secure business meetings with Cuban buyers and potential partners. The delegation, which includes noted Jamaican entities, will also be meeting with stakeholders to increase awareness of Jamaican products in the Cuban market, which promises to be lucrative due to Cuba’s population of 11 million and the growing tourism sector.
The presidents of The Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) will also be in attendance to represent private sector interests. Brand Jamaica will be well represented, with companies promoting a wide range of products and services such as pharmaceuticals, paints, chemicals, food as well as telecommunications.
JAMPRO president Diane Edwards has been working closely with the Cuban ambassador, Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, and other Cuban embassy representatives to increase trade between the two countries.
“The response we have received from the Cuban embassy and Cuban government representatives has been outstanding. They believe in cementing a Jamaican and Cuban trading relationship and we are happy to have them working with us to bring Jamaican products to their market,” she said.
Berletta Henlon Forrester, market development manager at JAMPRO, has led JAMPRO’s Cuban initiatives for several years and is pleased with the development of interest from Jamaica’s MSMEs: “This is JAMPRO’s largest trade mission to Cuba in its history; companies see possibilities in the Cuban market and believe that there are opportunities for Jamaican products to succeed. We will continue to work with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade to encourage the export of Jamaican products and services, while looking for new bilateral trade opportunities.”
JAMPRO is focused on strengthening ties with Cuba to encourage export of Jamaican products and to build economic partnerships. The agency looks forward to more positive developments as it executes its Caribbean and Latin American market development strategy for 2015.
