MINISTER OF Industry and Tourism, Aloun N'dombet Assamba, has reiterated the Government's commitment to leverage the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 to produce enterprise and business success for Jamaican businesses and entrepreneurs.
These benefits will be possible, she stated, provided businesses are willing to take the necessary steps to participate formally through the appropriate channels and mechanisms to link to the business aspects of the event.
She was speaking at the first business briefing of the Caribbean Business Opportunity Services (CBOS) at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown last week. The briefing was organised jointly by JAMPRO, through CBOS under the banner 'Maximising the Business Opportunities From Major Projects and Events'. The Jamaica Business Development Centre also participated under its sensitisation drive which targets micro, small and medium enterprises.
Minister Assamba disclosed that the Cricket World Cup 2007 is expected to attract some 100,000 visitors for nearly two months, and garner "intense and extensive media coverage that will transmit information to a potential global audience of two billion consumers."
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
"It is, therefore, not a small feat as it presents a window of opportunity to convert the exposure that will be derived into enterprise and more importantly into business success and profitability," Minister Assamba noted. She added that a number of initiatives have been developed to ensure that businesses tap into the opportunity, including an islandwide drive to educate businesses and communities on the potential for business.
Lisa Bell, executive director for services at JAMPRO, noted that the investment and promotion agency, under its Legacy and Vision 2012 strategy, has developed a framework to ensure that Jamaican businesses and the entire society take full advantage of the occasion for economic growth well beyond the staging of the event.
Mrs. Bell noted that under Vision 2012, Jamaica is seeking to leverage the unique global profile of its participation in CWC 2007 to increase tourism revenue and linkages; increase foreign investments; foster a more competitive private sector; develop a fresh and compelling identity for business in Jamaica with diversified markets and a consolidated creative industries sector. She disclosed that particular focus is to be placed on tourism, creative industries such as film, music, technology, design, fashion, sports and major events.
ON THE AGENDA
Outsourced services such as contact centres and logistical support are also high on the agenda. Mrs. Bell added that linkages and spin-offs to sectors such as information and communication technology, agribusiness, mining, shipping and logistics and manufactured goods are also being targeted.
Legacy has a number of components which include CBOS, a web-based business service portal developed by JAMPRO to facilitate connection between buyers and suppliers for major projects and events through business matching and an extensive buyers/suppliers directory; the Caribbean Business Club, an international business networking service; Brand Jamaica, a strategy to reposition Jamaica as a business destination, and the Jamaica Investment Attraction Programme, an intensified investment thrust.
