More regional trade would boost growth
BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONTEGO BAY, St James — CARIBBEAN countries would enjoy a growth spurt if they traded

and invested more among themselves and with Central America,

says Ambassador Albert Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General of the Organisaton of American States (OAS).
Obstacles posed by language barriers, visa restrictions, legal provisions and investment regulations,

which prevent trading between the regional nations and their Central American counterparts,

can be beaten, he said.

“If these challenges, for example, can be overcome — and I am convinced they can 

we will see greater trading volume and more growth in our economies.

There is still a world of untapped potential,” Ramdin said.

The combined market of Central America and the Caribbean has 56 million people,

which is “a sizeable market for small and medium size companies to thrive on”, he said.

The Republic of Suriname national was speaking Friday at the opening of the

14th Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)

three-day trade exposition at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Ambassador Ramdin noted that the theme, unleashing innovaton,

would require a crucial ingredient if it is to be realised.

“Unleashing innovation will, however, be meaningless if it does not have the critical support of key players.

This is where the politics and the policy come in. If our schools don’t encourage creative thinking,

or our government policies make little room for innovators and our banks and development agencies

are limited in their scope, then innovation will be undermined,” the OAS Assistant Secretary General noted.

He further noted: “Delay, uncertainty, poor quality and inefficient legal processes only serve to hinder innovation

and undermine the potential for economic growth and job creation”.

Expo 2011 powered by FLOW and JPS

When Expo 2011 commences on Friday, October 14 it will be fully powered by FLOW, through its business arm, Columbus Business Solutions and light and power company, JPS over its three-day staging by the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Columbus Business Solutions, through its sponsorship of Expo 2011 will ensure that the organizers, presenters and booth holders have access to blazing speed internet for enhanced communications at the high-powered trade exposition.

According, to Denise Williams, FLOW’s Director of Corporate and Government Affairs, they are also utilizing their resource on FLOW TV to garner greater exposure for EXPO 2011. The Chamber’s effort to create a more enabling environment for business growth and development, through its staging of EXPO 2011 is also getting a boost from JPS, which has been providing sponsorship for the initiative over its 14-year staging.

EXPO 2011 will be held from October 14 to 16 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall. The event which is now firmly established on Western Jamaica’s business calendar will this year be guided by the theme “Unleashing Innovations.” The event will be officially opened by Ambassador Albert Ramdin, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of American States.

Expo 2011 will see exhibitors from a wide cross-section of industries, including manufactured goods, services, technology, tourism, craft, agriculture, trade and investment.