Growth & Jobs | Export empowerment takes flight during Global Entrepreneurship Week

As part of our support for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2024, the Trade Board Limited (TBL), in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC) and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), embarked on three free export information sessions.

The two-day event, held on November 21 and 22, focused on empowering scores of entrepreneurs, exporters, and potential exporters who joined online to expand their reach and seize global opportunities.

Kamesha Turner Blake, executive director at the JMEA, lauded the partnership, stating, “The collaboration between the JMEA and the TBL spans decades, so it was natural to partner for GEW.” She added that “by uniting the strengths of all three parties [MIIC, TBL and JMEA], this partnership for Global Entrepreneurship Week harnesses the power of collaboration to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to thrive on the global stage”.

Day one of the series of webinars featured a captivating presentation by Jason Mills, manager of systems engineering and programming at TBL. Mills delivered an in-depth and interactive session on EXPORTJamaica, a cutting-edge digital platform designed to streamline export procedures and empower Jamaican businesses to navigate global markets with ease.

Participants were treated to a comprehensive live demonstration of the platform, showcasing its user-friendly interface, time-saving features, and robust support for ensuring seamless market access. The session not only highlighted the platform’s ability to simplify export processes, but emphasised its role in enhancing efficiency and competitiveness for local exporters in the international arena.

“EXPORTJamaica represents a key step in our ongoing mission to enable local businesses to thrive in the global marketplace by streamlining processes and removing barriers to entry,” Mills highlighted.

On November 22, the session on ‘Leveraging Trade Agreements’ set the stage for a day focused on unravelling the rules of origin for the export of Jamaican manufactured products or produce. Presented by Kanika Y. Tomlinson, senior legal counsel at TBL, the session spotlighted the advantages of utilising Jamaica’s trade agreements to secure preferential market access.

“Trade agreements provide manufacturers and exporters with the competitive advantage whenever utilised. If you want to benefit from no duties to low duties in certain markets, then trade agreements are the way to go,” Tomlinson said.

Patricia Anderson, export manager at P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited, who brought greetings as a proud member of the JMEA, appealed to the online audience to wholeheartedly embrace trade agreements. She said, “Explore their (trade agreements) intricacies, understand their provisions, and tailor your strategies to align with their potential. Together, we can turn opportunities into realities and inspire a new wave of growth across our industries.”

In further underscoring the value of trade agreements, she said they are bridges that connect local businesses to international opportunities, fostering growth, creating jobs, and enhancing our economic resilience. At their core, they represent partnerships that empower businesses like ours to thrive.” Anderson also emphasised that “P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited has reaped the benefits of reduced barriers, greater market access, and the ability to bring the finest Jamaican goods to the world over the past 145 years. Our success as a company is proof that trade agreements work.”

Following the insightful presentation on leveraging trade agreements, the spotlight shifted to export documentation with a session on the ‘Application Process for a Certificate of Origin’. Led by Ockeem Thomas, administrator in the Export Certification Unit, this segment provided a detailed, step-by-step guide to unlocking preferential treatment for export growth.

Thomas remarked that “the certificate of origin is an essential document for exporters that can provide low duty or no duty on Jamaican manufactured goods or produce in the receiving country. Exporters can use this as a bargaining chip to increase profitability.” Further to that, Thomas indicated that “our goal at the TBL is to simplify the application process, to ensure that Jamaican products reach international markets seamlessly”.

Acting Trade Administrator and CEO of the Trade Board Limited, Althea Matthews, commended the collaborative effort, stating, “The commemoration of Global Entrepreneurship Week is testament to Jamaica’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape. By partnering with our parent ministry and the JMEA, we continue to equip our manufacturers, large and small, with the tools they need to succeed globally, while strengthening the foundation for Jamaica’s economic transformation.”

“I am encouraged by the interest displayed by exporters who joined the sessions and those who have requested the recording. This is the kind of interaction we hoped for and encourage as we embark on increased public education sessions with exporters,” Matthews further explained.

The Trade Board Limited is proud to have played a role in advancing the entrepreneurial spirit and export capacity of Jamaican businesses during Global Entrepreneurship Week. These sessions are part of the TBL’s broader efforts to support the nation’s export-driven strategy through initiatives like the Jamaica Trade Information Portal and EXPORTJamaica.

To schedule a smaller, hand-holding export session for your company, please contact The Trade Board Limited at info@tradeboard.gov.jm or 876-967-0507.