Yahneake Sterling, Staff ReporterOPPOSITION LEADER Bruce Golding says he will be addressing issues concerning the local manufacturing sector when he speaks in the Budget Debate on Thursday.
In an interview with The Sunday Gleaner yesterday at the JEA/JMA expo held at the National Arena, Mr. Golding said, "the range and quality of products displayed here today demonstrates to me that the manufacturing sector is still critical in taking Jamaica forward."
Describing the expo as the best he has seen, the Opposition Leader said that his faith has been renewed in Jamaica's capacity to manufacture competitively. "We just need to attend to the problems that plague the industry such as the high cost of production, security and energy costs," he said.
TOP-OF-THE-CLASS ITEMS
The expo which features 220 stalls, saw 150 manufacturers displaying their goods. President of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), Doreen Frankson, remarked that the items on display were top of the class. "We have over 250 registered buyers, people have done good business," she added.
The JMA president noted that good business had been done and that numbers would be known at the end of today.
Dr. Andre Gordon, president of the Jamaica Exporters' Association, echoed the sentiments of Ms. Frankson, but stated that of the over 250 buyers, just over a 100 are buyers from the United Kingdom, China, Japan and the Caribbean.
He expressed that from this expo, he expects there will be an increase in export numbers.
He added that the expo had exceeded the expectations of the organisers and revealed that over 100 exhibitors had to be turned down due to lack of space.
The Sunday Gleaner also caught up with Governor- General, Professor Kenneth Hall, who commented that he was impressed with all the items he saw on display.
