Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's president, Noel daCosta, makes a point to director in the Office of Economic Growth at USAID, Vicki Johnson, at the Trade Pulse launch on Wednesday.
THE CREATION of a facilitative business environment is critical to building Jamaica's competitive-ness regionally and around the world, and a new trade-focused television series is aiming to fast-track Jamaica along the evolving curve of international business.
Trade Pulse is a topical trade news magazine illustrating the realities of the global trade environment, while assisting decision makers in interpreting external markets and accessing trade opportunities and alliances.
The 13-week series is among a number of business-facilitative initiatives of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) briefing room, a project partnership between the JCC and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
"Rapid market expansion and an evolving international trade arena are the standard of today's global economy, and Jamaica must ready itself to accelerate its competitiveness beyond other countries in the region if it is to succeed in the new global business environment," stated JCC briefing room chairman, Anthony Chang in an address to guests at a breakfast briefing last week at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
Trade Pulse is one in a suite of briefing room products designed to help demystify issues and barriers associated with trade in Jamaica. Process improvements, the delivery of relevant, impacting and substantive resources, and engaging the business community in legislative and trade negotiating processes are cornerstone tenets of the briefing room portfolio.
FACILITATING COMPETITION
Commenting on the programme, director in the Office of Economic Growth at USAID, Vicki Johnson, noted that the trade-focussed television series is a part of a number of activities funded by USAID to assist Jamaica to become more competitive in the changing global marketplace.
"Through our new development strategy (2005-2009) for Jamaica we will be working with governmental and private sector organisations, such as the JCC, to facilitate other programmes to enhance economic growth and competitiveness. We look forward to seeing what we believe will be positive results for the economic climate for Jamaica and ulti-mately, the region."
Developed for corporate decision makers, businesses and entrepreneurs, the 13-week series is a practical guide to interpreting trade agreements, assessing regional competitive opportunities and encouraging partnerships. Front-end episodes focus on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and detail the impli-cations of a liberalised economy, including the challenges, as well as the opportunities associated with trading in a free-market environment.
The free movement of people, goods and services, hot industries and emerging markets, and the challenges of doing business in a liberalised economy are among initial key themes. Legislative and regulatory frameworks, e-commerce and e-government, the legislative lobby, and an in-
depth look at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and bi-lateral trade agreements on the regional table round out the series' content focus.
Trade Pulse is driven by today's trade issues to provide practical, effective solutions across a broad range of industry and commercial interests. Case studies profile Jamaican businesses actively exporting and growing their bottom line, while expert guests from business and industry and the public sector lend their expertise and practical experience to each week's focus.
Trade Pulse is produced by Time Code Productions, under the direction of Bertha McLaren, and airs on Sunday's at 6:50 p.m. on CVM Television with repeats on Wednesday's at 10:53 p.m.
