Business Community Commended for Partnering with Spanish Companies

Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Jesus Silva, has commended the business community in St. James, particularly in Montego Bay, for partnering with Spanish companies, to make the tourist capital one of the most modern and most competitive resorts in the country and within the Caribbean, despite the economic recession.
“There is evidence that Jamaican companies and businesses are profiting more and more from partnerships with Spanish companies. These companies have understood that to be competitive and to be able to partner with Spanish companies, you have to make efforts toward investments and modernising your service and production, and becoming more efficient, and you have done so quite successfully,” he said.
“This has resulted in Jamaica becoming the only major tourism player of the Caribbean region that is not having a hard time in the economic crisis,” Ambassador Silva pointed out.
The Ambassador was delivering the main address at the opening of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Expo 2009, at the Cruise Ship Terminal, Montego Freeport, on June 26.

Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Jesus Silva (left), prepares to cut the ribbon to signal the official opening of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Expo 2009, at the Cruise Ship Terminal, Montego Freeport, St. James, on June 26. Others (from left) are: Chairman of Expo 2009, Gloria Henry; Chairman for the ceremony, Lloyd B. Smith, and Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Cecil Davis.

Mr. Silva said there are still possibilities and opportunities for the country to become even stronger. “I think that tourism, as it is now, is fine, but we must understand that we must prepare for the future. The government and private institutions and companies must now seek to prepare and plan ahead by continuing to invest in infrastructure, which is vital for the required efficiency of the times. Montego Bay cannot be just an important resort city, it has to be an important economic and financial capital of the entire western end of the island,” he said.
The results in the Best Display Booth Competition were announced, with Wards Power Tools and Supplies walking away with the coveted MBCC First Place Trophy, while Your Way Kitchen Furniture and Trident Company were awarded second and third places, respectively.
A total of 90 exhibitors participated in the Expo, which was staged under the theme: ‘Creating opportunities . Igniting the entrepreneurial spirit’.