- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
United States Ambassador Sue Cobb (left) speaks to Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Executive Director Greta Bogues. They were attending the launch of the Building Bridges trade mission and partnering fair at the JAMPRO head office in New Kingston last week.
Andrew Green, Staff Reporter
A TRADE mission to Florida in June is an example of the increased sophistication developed by Jamaica's export promoters.
Businesses can showcase their products and services at the 'Trade Mission and Partnering Fair' which is scheduled to be held at the Broward County Convention Center, said JAMPRO Chairman Patricia Francis. She was speaking at the launch of the trade fair at the JAMPRO head office in New Kingston last week.
"June 8 - 9 is when businesses of both areas can showcase their products and services and exchange ideas," Mrs. Francis said. The trade fair is the newest element in the Building Bridges initiative, started last year by United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Sue Cobb.
"We can all help each other down here in this part of the world by meeting and talking and seeing where your business interests lie," Ambassador Cobb said.
The trade fair was developed with the interests of small and medium-sized businesses in mind, she said. Jamaican participants will be matched with Florida businesses involved in complementary activities.
The aim is for each participating company to have at least nine business meetings, six to take place on the first day of the trade fair and then three on the second, said Caroline Mahfood, executive director of the Building Bridges programme.
"The fact that they are going to be doing some matchmaking really makes it worthwhile," said Beverly Lopez, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). "The matchmaking is the really great part about this."
The benefit to participating businesses is that they are going to attend a trade fair with appointments already set up, Mrs. Lopez said. The value of this was established from the trade mission to Atlanta last October.
PREVIOUS SUCCESS
The Atlanta trade mission was credited with success because of the number of targeted meetings held with a receptive business community in that southern U.S. city. In the past, the typical trade mission had involved guests being invited to look at displays of Jamaican goods and services, and then hopefully stimulating business on that basis. This new methodology immediately opens opportunities that can be explored, Mrs. Lopez said. "The more appointments they can make, the more it will be good for businesses to spend money on this trade mission."
This was the main lesson learned from the Atlanta mission, the PSOJ president said. Additionally, there has been a major effort to keep the event as inexpensive as possible, to maximise participation.
The Ambassador said, "We do not want to have an event in South Florida that is too costly for some people to attend."
The trade mission will have added resonance as it is being held during Jamaica Week, being put on by Broward County, Ambassador Cobb said. This involves a week of activities developed around the links between Jamaica and the county.
Broward County has the fastest growing Jamaican diasporic community in Florida, the ambassador said. "I really hope that a lot of contacts can be made."
Jamaica and Florida are natural 'sisters', and have developed close ties over the years, said Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) President, Dr. Andre Gordon. He pledged the support of the JEA in making the event a success.
