Meanwhile, mayor of Montego Bay Charles Sinclair in his welcome remarks batted for a sustained partnership between Government and the private sector.

“There must be encouraged and sustained that vital partnership between government, both central and local, and the private sector. They must take each other within their confidence. The environment in which businesses can strive, be innovative, and become productive and prosperous, must be created,” Sinclair argued.

The president of the MBCCI, Davon Crump, argued that given the global financial meltdown, the trade expostion is timely in promoting business enterprises.

“Expo 2011 could not have come at a better time, and some question the logic of my position especially in the harsh economic times we are experiencing. However, times like such as this calls form more of everything that’s good for businesses, including marketing and promotions. Now is not the time to play possum, indeed this is the time for all of us to unleash our creative potentials,” Crump said.