By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterMARKED BY colourful cultural performances from local and international artistes, the Consular Corps of Jamaica opened its inaugural International Trade Exposition at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Sunday night.
The event, dubbed 'A World of Opportunities Opens Today' is part of the Consular Corps' initiatives to promote trade between Jamaica and other countries.
"The expo provides a global marketing window for many exhibitors," said K.D. Knight, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, while noting that trade has been essential to international relations.
Some 23 countries with a total of 37 booths are participating in the exposition, which ends on Friday.
Noting that "We need to move out of the category of developing country," Mr. Knight challenged members of the private sector to assist the Government in making Jamaica a developed country within the next 10 years.
In the meantime, he said the proper framework for creating and marketing products must be adopted for the further development of trade relations.
Arnold Foote, the Dean of the Consular Corps of Jamaica, said that in addition to the development of trade, the expo, which will be an annual event, would contribute to restoring Kingston as a tourist destination.
The cultural performers were Argentinean Ariel Porollan on guitar, the Cathi Levy Players in dance, Theatre of the Millennium dancers from Peru and the Carifolk Singers.
Nightly entertainment will be provided throughout the expo.
