Jamaican Business Women Call on Ambassador Vasciannie

Two young Jamaican entrepreneurs, Yannek Page and Grace Foster-Reid, recently met with Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Stephen Vasciannie, to discuss various initiatives related to business innovation and market opportunity.

Included in the meeting, held at the Embassy in Washington DC, was Minister- Counsellor for Trade and Economic Matters, Ariel Bowen.

The Jamaican business women were in Washington for a special training and orientation programme hosted by the US State Department, for business women from different parts of the world.

Ambassador Vasciannie encouraged them in their effort, and expressed the hope that they will be successful as they seek to reach new markets and “spread the good news of Jamaican enterprise and spirit.”

Co-Chair of WEConnect Jamaica, a local entity with international links devoted to “connecting women-owned businesses with market opportunity,” Mrs. Page is also Director of The Innovators Entrepreneurship Training Programme in Jamaica. She is well-known for the television programme ‘The Innovators’, which is a mentoring initiative for aspiring entrepreneurs, and has worked with the US State Department in promoting the interests of women leaders from the Caribbean.

Her colleague, Mrs. Foster-Reid, is the Managing Director of Ecofarms, a community-based business that produces the Jamaican ‘Buzz Honey Wine’ from its headquarters in Manchester.

The product is available in Jamaican stores, and Ecofarms is now pursuing opportunities to expand production for the export market.