By Dennise Williams , Staff ReporterYOU WILL be able to experience 'A Touch of France' through an exhibition to run from March 22 to 24 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel in New Kingston.
The exposition will feature cultural, commercial and educational exhibitions, which highlight the French culture, said Pierre Lemaire, president of Alliance Francaise of Jamaica. He was addressing a media briefing at the Hilton yesterday.
"We expect the three day exhibition to attract a wide cross section of the population," he said. This includes businesspeople interested in sourcing French products in Jamaica as well as doing business with French companies.
Products and services will include those from metropolitan France and the French Caribbean islands.
Interest in French products and services has continued to grow and France has become one of Jamaica's important suppliers in certain categories such as aircraft, automobiles, wines and spirits, cosmetics and perfumes, industrial equipment and electronic material, said Karlene Lemaire, assistant to the French Trade Commissioner.
The role of the Trade Commission is to promote business and commercial activities between France and Jamaica by acting as facilitator in setting up the necessary links between the buyers and suppliers of both countries, she said.
France exported US$90 million worth of goods and services to Jamaica while importing US$66 million worth of goods from the island in 2003.
EXPORTS
"Over the period January to December 2003, French exports to Jamaica declined somewhat but this is explained by the fact that one major product, Airbus planes, was not purchased by Air Jamaica in 2003," Mrs. Lemaire said. "Other French exports, however, showed increases such as automobiles, industrial equipment, wines and spirits and electronic apparatus."
Jamaica recorded a slight decrease in exports to France for 2003, even though exports of seafood and condiments increased, she said. France's main import from Jamaica is from the bauxite/alumina sector, accounting for about US$50 million worth of sales in 2003.
"To facilitate further business linkages, a business forum will be held on the last day of the expo in conjunction with JAMPRO," she said. A delegation from Guadeloupe will be a part of the business interests represented at 'A Touch of France'.
