By Andrew Green, Staff ReporterTHE JAMAICA Manufacturers' Association (JMA) has received reports that the sector grew by 2.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2004, said Doreen Frankson.
"This is good news as the sector has been experiencing decline for a number of years," she said. She was speaking at the JMA annual general meeting held at its Kingston headquarters on Wednesday.
Market deregulation combined with the country's difficult economic circumstances had dealt a severe blow to manufacturing over the past two decades. Employment in the sector fell from an average of 136,000 in 1990 to 73,000 in 2000 and 66,000 in 2003, according to the Economic and Social Survey of Jamaica.
To rebuild the sector, the JMA launched the Buy Jamaican Build Jamaica campaign last year, Ms. Frankson said. They also re-launched the JMA/JEA Expo and recommended to the Government and private financial institutions the need for a special fund with single digit rates for retooling the sector.
TRULY SURPRISED
"These were all successfully accomplished," she said. "At the Expo I saw that Jamaicans were truly surprised with the quality and variety of the products that the manufacturing sector in Jamaica can produce."
The JMA's 2003 annual report showed that during the year a number of companies expanded their product line and introduced new
products.
These included EdgeChem Jamaica Limited, which introduced a new line of decorative paints. P. A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company launched their new line of baby products branded Baby, Baby, consisting of oil, shampoo and lotion. They also introduced Body Collections Body Oil, Benjamin's Blue Colouring and Benola Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is their first production of olive oil for culinary use. Barco Caribbean commenced the production of Mi Vida Water, while Starfish Oils and Boss Furniture introduced the Bob Marley candle collection and Simmonds Sleep System respectively.
Continental Baking Company started the production of a new line of Bran hot-dog, hamburger and dinner rolls. The company also began producing new snack products under the National brand, which included Potato Puffs, Crispy Critters, Sweet Hearts, and Oh's.
NEW PRODUCTS
The Jamaica Biscuit Company introduced a new brand of cookies called Skookies, along with Hardough Crackers. Red Stripe launched Smirnoff Ice, while Trade Wind Citrus and Jamaica Drink Company launched sorrel ginger drinks. Smith and Stewarts introduced a new bite-size Ice Cream Cake as well as exotic new ice cream flavours onto the local market. Other companies with new products on the market in 2003 were Grace Food Processors (Canning) Limited, with Redi-Meal Products and Tropical Rythms Diet Juices.
Grace Food Processors (Meats) Limited introduced the Spicy and Spicy Chicken Jumbo Hot Dogs in addition to Smoked Chicken.
Walkerswood Caribbean Foods Limited acquired the Hope Gardens Sorrel Chutney and LASCO Foods Limited began production of Fruit Ranger Drink Mixes. Trinjam Food Processors Limited started its new Breadfruit Chips line and St. Mary Plantain Chips, while Spike Industries had a new 12-ounce Peanut Punch and Sugar Free Orange Juice. But the recovery of manufacturing can only continue, "with a commitment from us and the wider private sector, the Government and the trades unions to support the productive sector," Ms. Frankson said. Looking forward to 2004, she said, "We anticipate a very eventful year."
