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CARICOM Among Four Major Markets Being Targeted

By: , March 2, 2019
CARICOM Among Four Major Markets Being Targeted
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, addresses the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) stakeholder breakfast forum, held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston, on February 28.

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Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says CARICOM is among four major markets being targeted, under the Government’s thrust to attain higher levels of economic growth, through the linkage between agriculture and industry. 

Addressing a Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) stakeholder breakfast forum, at the Spanish Court Hotel, in New Kingston, on February 28, the Minister  said the other markets are the Diaspora, hotels and the school feeding programme.

Mr. Shaw argued that as a member of the regional single market and economy, Jamaica needs to start producing and exporting more to CARICOM.

He noted that with the exception of a couple member states, “everybody else has to import virtually everything consumed,” hence the need for Jamaica to be exporting more to the region.

In the case of the Diaspora, Mr. Shaw said there are “as many Jamaicans or persons with connections  living abroad, as there are in Jamaica,” citing the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom as the main areas.

He said information gleaned suggests that these persons “crave for food from Jamaica… but can’t get it.”

Against this background, Mr. Shaw said there is  need for Jamaica to “systematically” target the Diaspora, in order to exploit the export potential in that area.

The Minister said the school feeding programme represents, arguably, the “richest market” to be tapped.

“If we are going to create wealth in Jamaica, we have got to start by giving our children proper nutrition,” he emphasised.

“We’ve got to stop importing genetically modified food and feeding our children with it, on the pretext that it is cheap. Wealth doesn’t begin in the pocket… wealth begins in the brain… with a school feeding programme that is inspired by local production of more nutritious foods than what we are importing,” the Minister added.

Mr. Shaw also cited hotels and, by extension, the tourism industry as the fourth sector which can be supplied with local produce.

Meanwhile, the  Minister commended Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, for his vision in merging the agriculture and industry portfolios.

He cited the “natural synergy” between both sectors, which he says “is part of the secret to how we are going to return to significant levels of economic growth.”

 The forum was held under the theme: ‘Eye on 20/20: Exploring New Frontiers’.

Last Updated: March 2, 2019

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