JAMAICAN EXPORTERS are expected to begin benefiting from a multimillion euro project to improve the sales and competitiveness of small and medium-size businesses in early 2004.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson made the announcement last night at the official launch of the Jamaica Exporters' Association's (JEA) National Export Week at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston.
The Prime Minister said the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the JEA and national investment agency, JAMPRO, are currently in discussions with the European Union (EU) to develop the multimillion euro project, which will be four times the size of an existing programme, the EU's Trade Development project.
NET INCREASE
He said that under the existing programme, firms which have participated over the past two years have shown a 34 per cent net increase over the national average for non-traditional exports.
The project is one of two EU programmes that have provided local exporters with over $83 million over the last year. The other programme is the Centre for Development of Enterprise. Both have provided training and assistance to 60 companies and 300 exporters or export-related firms.
Mr. Patterson also announced that priority was being given to tourism, agriculture and services, among them entertainment, health and education. Focus would also be placed on implementing the Master Plan for Tourism.
The Ministry of Development has been given the responsibility to finalise a new approach to incentives in line with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) constraints, the Prime Minister said.
He said alumina production was up by 7.9 per cent for the first three months of 2003 and that investments in bauxite and alumina of US$200 million are proceeding and would mean additional foreign exchange earnings of over US$100 million from 2004.
The Prime Minister said that tourism stop-overs for the same period were up by over seven per cent and cruise ship arrivals up by over 40 per cent. "Major new investments involving a number of new hotel rooms will be announced shortly," he said.
