Heather Shields (centre), head of marketing at Digicel, presents a cheque of $10 million to Senator Norman Grant (left), president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society at the signing of a sponsorship agreement for the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show at the Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. Also present is Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke. - JOHN MYERS JR. PHOTO
TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER Digicel has increased its sponsorship of the annual Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show, organised by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), to $10 million over three years.
The sponsorship deal was signed yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. Under the sponsorship arrangement, the JAS will receive $3.3 million this year, $3.3 million next year and $3.4 million the following year.
Heather Shields, head of marketing at Digicel, said the increase in sponsorship of the island's premiere agricultural event was a reflection of the company's belief "in the importance that agriculture plays in our development as a nation and our existence as a people". She added that if this belief is
replicated throughout the country then "the only way we can go is up". Ms. Shields said that Digicel will be working closely with the JAS to ensure that "everybody walks away from Denbigh this year and say: 'Wow, that was incredible'."
BIGGER AND BETTER
Senator Norman Grant, president of the JAS, said "this alliance creates a platform for the preparation of an improved product and provides a forum for other exhibitors ... to market their goods". He said this year's show "is intended to be even bigger and better as we seek to represent the finest from food production to the livestock sector, agro processing, rural business development, agro services and technical support."
BUILDING SYNERGIES
The JAS president said he would be using the CARICOM Single Market as a platform to encourage other Caribbean and international players to participate in the agricultural show which is staged over the Independence holidays in August each year.
"It is our intention to build synergies by promoting investment opportunities in our involvement with the implementation of the
CARICOM Single Market," he emphasised.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, who was also present at the signing, lauded Digicel for its support of the agricultural sector. He said the time has come for the Denbigh Agricultural Show to rise to its full potential by expanding into new business ventures.
