More Marketing Opportunities for MSMEs

More marketing opportunities are expected to open up for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in food processing this fiscal year, with a boost of $180 million.

The money has been provided in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure under the Economic Partnership Agreement II (EPA II) Capacity Building Project, which aims to support the Government of Jamaica in addressing the trade deficits, accelerating exports, enhancing competitiveness and integrating the economy into global markets.

The money will help to strengthen access to export by mapping external and internal market opportunities for selected high value-added food products; and identify potential food-processing MSMEs that can supply the available markets.

In addition, it is expected that the capacity of Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to serve their food-processing MSME members to improve product offerings and management capacity will be improved; product offerings are to be increased and the quality of selected MSME food products are to be improved. Also, improved agricultural practices and increased farmers financial literacy are expected to result in increased quantity and improved quality of harvested crops supplied by farmer groups to selected food-processing firms.

It is also anticipated that the Quality and Standards Control Environment will be strengthened through an increase in the range of laboratory services that meet ISO 17025 international requirements and standards on food safety; and an increase in the number of ISO 17025 accredited laboratories working on food safety issues, by providing training, consultancies and modern equipment.

Further, the capacity of local laboratories to attain international acceptance of test results and conformity assessment services will be built, by demonstrating the competencies of public and private laboratories through proficiency testing, training, consultancies and provision of modern equipment. In addition, the monitoring programmes for pesticide residues and food contaminants are to be enhanced.

Up to January 2016 under the project, 10 working groups from firms in the sauces and spices sector were formed; a buyers’ mission from UK and US firms was carried out; working groups focusing on marketing, standardisation, certification and cluster information platform were organised; and working groups from four firms in the coffee sector were organised.

Additionally, staff members in laboratories supported under EPA I were trained; and the service of a consultant was procured to develop a Client Management System for Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC).

The project, which is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), with funding from the European Union, was originally slated to run from December 2013 to December 2017. With a further extension, it is now scheduled to end in December 2019.