Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
AT LAST night's end to the Jamaica Exporters' Association/ Jamaica Manufacturers' Associa-tion's annual expo, Jencare Skin Farm and Trade Winds, formerly United Estate Juice Company, each took two of the expo's seven prizes.
The expo, held at the National Arena, lasted for three days during which exhibitors were judged for their various displays.
Jencare Skin Farm received the prizes for the best consumer appeal for packaging as well as the best new product. Trade Winds took the prizes for most 'wow' factor and the best booth that captured the 'Buy Jamaican' spirit.
BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Other winners were Digicel who stole the prize for best use of technology in communication; most informative went to the Bureau of Standards, while Free Form Factory won the prize for innovativeness and creativity in design.
Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson who visited the expo yesterday, said the displays were very impressive and that he had observed an extended range of quality products being produced in Jamaica.
POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES
"Government has been implementing policies and programmes to enable the manufacturing sector to make the necessary adjustments in order to be competitive in the region of Caribbean Single Market (CSM), then the wider world," Mr. Patterson said.
Both consumers as well as the businesses that had their various displays, commented that the expo proved to be rather successful.
"It has been very good, it shows the skills of the Jamaican people. It is encouraging to Jamaicans to see and know that we can produce such lovely goods on the local market as well as international market," Earl Hemans, one patron told The Gleaner. He added that he had hoped to see more booths displaying their products.
Andre Gooden, Portfolio Manager at First Global Financial Services, said the expo, though not a suitable place to conduct business, provided businesses with the opportunity to network and meet potential customers.
