Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Small and micro business enterprises are hoping to score heavily from the opportunities arising from Jamaica's staging of matches and other events related to the ICC Cricket World Cup, starting next month.

The Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC), acting under licence obtained from the ICC, has designated 23 companies to produce a range of craft items and souvenirs for sale during the six-week long staging of the World Cup.

The licensed items include aromatherapy products, straw hats, leather products, and wooden products, such as boxes, trays, place mats and coaster sets. There are also refrigerator magnets key rings and jewellery, ranging from the low costume pieces to higher quality silver pendants.

Valerie Veira, head of the JBDC, disclosed at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum that 71 products had been approved by the ICC, and, according to her, the initiative is already doing well.

Special funds

"The Government, through us and our ministry, has provided some special funds to assist these persons for purchasing raw material and getting themselves ready for delivering the products that we have ordered. Our shops are designated as logo shops and so legally those products will be sold through our shops."

The JBDC's shops are located at the country's two international airports, at the marina in Port Antonio, Portland, at Devon House in St. Andrew, and at the agency's corporate head office at 14 Camp Road in Kingston.

It was noteworthy, Miss Veira observed, that this was the first time that the ICC had entered into such a licensing agreement to faci-litate the participation of small businesses in the production of souvenirs for any of its events.

Approval from the ICC

Encouraged by this breakthrough, the JBDC has also sought and is awaiting approval from the ICC to also take its products to the other Caribbean islands participating in the World Cup. Not content to confine itself to these opportunities, the JBDC will also be staging three major trade shows - one at Devon House, another at the Liguanea Golf Academy, in collaboration with the ICC, and a third at Harbour Head.

Madden-greg

The Cricket World Cup starts with the opening ceremony at the new multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny on March 11 and end with the finals at Kensington, Barbados on April 28.

Jamaica, awarded the Yellow Package, will enjoy the distinction of being the only territory to host all the participating teams - during the days leading up to and including the opening ceremony.