The National Export Strategy (NES), scheduled to be implemented in April 2009, will seek to increase Jamaica's exports over time, Arlene Martin, project consultant with Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), has said. The NES is part of the Government Vision 2030 plan to make Jamaica a developed country.

The NES is a unified national strategy to advance the competitiveness of firms and sectors, while enhancing the business and trade environment in order to improve Jamaica's export performance.

Shipping industry stakeholders got an insight into the NES on October 29, when Martin made a presentation during the Carib Star-sponsored Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) Lunch and Learn Seminar. Lunch and Learn seminars are held monthly by the SAJ to inform its members about developments in the shipping industry and world trade.

Diversify the sector

According to Martin, the goals of the NES is to increase the export contribution to gross domestic product; to become a reliable contributor to foreign exchange earnings, Thereby reducing the dependence on remittances; and to increase the export sector's contribution to overall employment generation thereby improving the livelihoods of marginalised groups.

Plans are also in place to diversify the export sector. These plans include:

Achieving higher value addition in the agricultural commodities sector;

Increasing the current value of non-traditional exports of goods by 50 per cent by 2012 through increased volumes and higher value addition;

Increasing the contribution of services exports as a percentage of overall exports with particular emphasis on developing professional services and creative industries export sectors;

Accessing new and emerging markets and increasing market penetration in existing markets.

The NES has outlined a comprehensive strategy to address the export sector. It includes:

Positioning the export sector to contribute to Jamaica's overall development within the context of Vision 2030;

Removing impediments to competitiveness within the export sector (includes capacity development and diversification, human capital development, cost of doing business and export facilitation, and market access and promotion) by harnessing Jamaica's creativity and innovation;

Allocating scarce resources to the priority sectors and business support services that enable current exporters to export more, potential exporters to begin exporting and aspiring exporters to realise their export potential.