- Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
Doreen Frankson, JMA president, and Michel Lee-Chin, NCB chairman, sign off on the 'Buy Jamaican...Build Jamaica' campaign at the JMA's headquarters on Duke Street, Kingston, last Friday. Minister of Industry and Tourism, Aloun N'Dombet Assamba, right, looks on.
Al Edwards, Business Co-ordinator
IN AN effort to get Jamaicans to support local manufacturers and products the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA), led by its president, Doreen Frankson, has initiated a 'Buy Jamaican... Build Jamaica' campaign in conjunction with National Commercial Bank.
The campaign was officially launched last Friday, February 27, at the JMA's 85(A) Duke Street, Kingston, headquarters.
EFFECT ON JAMAICA
Speaking at the launch of this latest effort to get the country behind its home-made goods, Ms. Frankson said: "This campaign is not only about nationalism, nor is it an attempt to play upon sentimental feelings to buy Jamaican products for the sake of buying Jamaican. It is rather, a serious promotion of Jamaican enterprise and Jamaican production based on the cold economic facts.
"These economic facts include our deteriorating trade figures and the fact that many companies have spent millions of dollars to re-engineer themselves for global trade. We also assert that this campaign is a public testimony that the Jamaican manufacturing sector must take charge of its own destiny. There can be no prosperity for Jamaica, unless the sectors making up the Jamaican economy prosper."
She stressed that there can be no bringing down of the fiscal deficit or improvement in the real economy without support for indigenous production, of which the local manufacturing sector is the backbone. She believes that the increasing trade deficits which was at US$2.45 billion in 2002, and US$1.46 billion for the first-half of 2003 can substantially be addressed by a vibrant local manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing represents 16 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and employs in excess of 82,000 Jamaicans at all levels of training and education, a clear indication of its importance to the Jamaican economy. "It is a world trading environment in which goods must be internationally competitive. Companies must be efficient and benchmarked against the best, and our established and emerging brands must match the tried and proven in the marketplace.
"Against this background, the JMA is extremely heartened that the National Commercial Bank is showing its total commitment to national development in general and the "Buy Jamaican, Build Jamaica" campaign in particular, by becoming the major partner.
"This is indeed enlightened thinking by the National Commercial Bank and a real show of support for Jamaican manufacturing and the spirit of entrepreneurship in our country. It is clear evidence that you are re-investing in Jamaica and the potential growth areas, which must lead Jamaica to economic prosperity."
ECONOMY NEEDS TO GROW
The campaign will be a massive effort to educate Jamaicans and create the awareness among consumers of the range of quality, locally manufactured products and produce grown.
"For Jamaica and Jamaicans to succeed, our economy must be returned to a state of growth and prosperity. Partnerships and collaboration are critical ingredients. Indeed, there will be no economic growth and no national development without these types of partnerships, among the sectors, among strategic partners in the private sector and with the Government.
"For the partnerships to be successful, we must see ourselves as a part of Jamaica working for a better Jamaica," said Ms. Frankson.
