The Afro News, Vancouver : Beyond its image as a tourist destination, Jamaica is a place to do business on a global scale. JAMPRO is that gateway which connects the world to Jamaica, enabling entrepreneurs from around the globe to tap into the wealth of trade and investment opportunities available in the country.
JAMPRO – Jamaica’s investment and export promotion agency was established in 1988 to stimulate, facilitate, and promote the development of trade and industry, and export and investment activities in all sectors of the island’s economy. The agency drives this process through focus on a number of targeted sectors which include the creative industries (film, music and entertainment), manufacturing, tourism, agri-business, information and communication technology, mining, and professional services.
Robert Kerr, Regional Director of JAMPRO was recently in Vancouver looking to build relationships with Vancouver businesses.
‘Jamaica celebrated 50 years independence last year and there has been a higher level of interest in doing business with Jamaica’, said Robert. He added that Eastern Canada has long standing trade deals with Jamaica and the expansion of business includes coming West in the hope of promoting business further on the Western shores of Canada as there are already a few exporters in Jamaica that currently ship to Vancouver. Kerr advised that Vancouver is the gateway to the East, is a well developed location, high standard of living and has businesses looking forward to diversify into other markets. Kerr further stated that Telus is head quartered in Vancouver and they are one of the major corporations that are expanding to Jamaica.
Robert also reported that the expansion of the Panama Canal will have a huge impact on Jamaica’s export and import abilities and will increase trade interest into and out of Jamaica. Jamaican Appleton Rum is a highly sought after Jamaican product here in Canada.
JAMPRO has a team on the ground in Jamaica, to develop long term relationships with Canadian counterparts. JAMPRO is a one stop shop and is involved in every step of the alliances between the Jamaican and Canadian business alliance.
The Canadian office of JAMPRO is located in the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto. Robert Kerr can be reached at rkerr@jamprocorp.com or +1 416 932 2600 for more information about investment and trade opportunities in Jamaica.
