Atlanta Trade Mission to Visit Montego Bay in October

A trade delegation from Atlanta is to visit Montego Bay in October, as part of efforts to deepen the trading relationship between the sister cities.

The team, to be led by Mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reid, will comprise 12 top business executives from the capital of the American state of Georgia.

Mayor Reid gave the commitment for the visit during talks with the Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris on Tuesday, May 21, at Atlanta City Hall, downtown Atlanta.

Mayor Harris was leading a six-person delegation to the city comprising members of the Montego Bay Parish Council, the Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister-Cities Committee, and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“I believe that a trade mission from Atlanta to the city of Montego Bay will be beneficial to both cities. I think the economic potential that are available in Montego Bay and Atlanta and by extension, Jamaica, is just extraordinary,” Mayor Reid said.

He pointed out that the Atlanta trade delegation will be looking at various investment opportunities in Montego Bay in the areas of manufacturing, information technology, tourism, real estate, among others.

Mayor Reid stated that the trade mission will coincide with the 20th Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister-Cities Health Mission in October, at which time, he will have an opportunity to see the work that is being done by the medical team.

He promised to provide more support for the health mission, which has benefitted more than 50,000 Jamaicans in western parishes over its 19-year history.

The Atlanta Mayor also commended the Government of Jamaica for the upgrading of the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, which is now a world class facility and said the city is willing to offer technical assistance for further improvements.

Mayor Harris, in welcoming the Atlanta trade mission, said it will help to strengthen the 30-year sister cities relationship between Atlanta and Montego Bay.

He requested support from his counterpart in promoting and marketing the Montego Bay Convention Centre, as well as the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, and the Trelawny Stadium in Falmouth, Trelawny.

Both Mayors held discussions on a wide range of topics, including tourism, cultural and educational exchanges, strengthening the relationship of both cities, the training of firefighting personnel, improving service delivery, and solid waste management.

The Montego Bay team arrived in Atlanta on Saturday, May 18, for a four-day visit at the invitation of Mayor Reid.

They attended a joint sister-cities meeting, where they met with representatives of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, members of the Atlanta City Council and held discussions with the representatives of the Atlanta Solid Waste Department and representatives of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Atlanta’s Fire Chief, Kelvin Cochran Harris, during a meeting, committed to offering specialised training in various areas of fire and rescue, in addition to establishing an exchange programme where firefighters could travel to either city for technical experience.

The delegation included Secretary/Manager, St. James Parish Council, Gerald Lee; Chairman of the Civic and Community Affairs Committee, Councillor Suzette Brown; Chairman of the Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister-Cities Committee, Fred Smith; Andre Dixon and Mary Chambers from the Atlanta/Montego Bay Sister-Cities Committee; and, Personal Assistant to Mayor Harris, Cheryl Royal.

Contact: Derrick A. Scott