Export Centre/Business Information Point Project Making Commerce Easier

The establishment of Export Centres/Business Information Points (ECBIP) across the island has made it easier for owners of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to conduct business with public entities.
This is the word from Deputy Programme Manager for the Private Sector Development Project (PSDP), Eleanor Henry, at the opening of an ECBIP yesterday (Jan. 29), at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) St. Thomas parish office in Morant Bay.
“Rural clients in the western end of the island can now access the services of the Companies Office of Jamaica through the ECBIP satellite at the Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) office in Montego Bay or at any of the offices of the Chambers of Commerce in Negril and Hanover,” she pointed out, adding that clients can also use credit cards to purchase services on-line and to pay taxes and customs duties.
The opening of the Morant Bay centre brings to 10, the number of facilities established across the island through partnership involving the PSDP, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), JTI, and the Jamaica Export Association (JEA).
The programme, jointly funded by the Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU), aims to positively impact national export performance and competitiveness, and improve the access of Jamaican products to international markets.
Clients are able to access more readily, information on export and business-related data, to help support and grow their businesses. The facility provides price information, buyer’s information as well as import and export data on goods. Clients can also conduct on-line business transactions and research.
Ms. Henry said that the plan was to have one ECBIP facility in each parish by the end of December 2009. To date, facilities have been opened in Hanover, Westmoreland, St. James, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, St. Mary and Kingston.
Export Promotion Manager at JTI, Berletta Forrester said another centre, sponsored by the JTI, will be opened in Westmoreland next week.
“We are of the strong view that these kinds of support services are critical to things that our citizens want to be able to do in order to move their own enterprises and their communities forward,” she stated.
Other speakers at the ceremony were Vice President of the JEA, Michael Ming; General Manager at JEA, Jean Smith; RADA St. Thomas Parish Manager, Caswell Glover; and Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastern St. Thomas, Dr. Fenton Ferguson.