GREGORY

LOCAL entrepreneurs, expectant that organisers of Cricket World Cup have provided a perfect 'batting strip', are optimistic that the six-week tournament will be a boon for business.

On Wednesday, Robert Gregory, president of Jamaica Trade and Invest (formerly Jamaica Promotions), outlined a series of events geared toward establishing new ties with business interests from countries participating in the World Cup.

"Cricket World Cup is opening up a whole new range of possibilities, we are having people come to our country who would not otherwise have come here," Mr. Gregory told The Gleaner. "Most of them are well-heeled persons who are influential, who will be exposed to possibilities they never even thought of."

On Wednesday, various sectors of Jamaican commerce were represented during a press conference at the JTI's Trafalgar Road headquarters in St. Andrew.

Capitalise on spin-offs

The 27 companies range from leisure to communications and film. They are members of the Caribbean Club, network hubs which were formed throughout the Caribbean to capitalise on the World Cup's commercial spin-offs.

"It's the mating house, if you like," said Mr. Gregory. "We believe that this matching of people who come here for cricket, but who have other interests, will open opportunities for Jamaican suppliers of goods and services."

The Caribbean Club will be based in New Kingston for the tournament's duration. Promotional events are also scheduled for the Half Moon Shopping Village in Montego Bay, and the Jamaica Trade and Invest Booth in Water Square, Trelawny.