Jamaica committed to expanding exports to UK

Red Stripe’s brand manager, Michelle Cunningham (left) presenting Red Stripe beer to Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Stephen Wedderburn (centre) and His Excellency, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, David Fitton (right) during a tour of the exhibits at the UK Food and Beverage exhibition held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Stephen Wedderburn has reiterated Jamaica’s commitment to expand export of produce and products to the United Kingdom as the country seeks to achieve increased economic growth. Mr. Wedderburn was speaking at the opening ceremony of the UK Food and Beverage Exhibition, where he represented the Hon Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston on March 16.
Describing Jamaica’s trade performance over the last few decades as lacklustre, Mr Wedderburn said this underperformance is characterized by limited export growth and disproportionate levels of imports.
Mr. Wedderburn said the history of Jamaica indicates that the periods of our highest economic growth were periods in which export earnings increased. In that regard, the chief technical director said Jamaica has been expanding its export platform to facilitate the growth in the export of both traditional and non-traditional produce and products.
He further stated that Jamaica was committed to satisfying customer demand in the UK and wider EU market for items such as bananas, mangoes, yams and sweet potatoes
Noting the deep and cordial ties that bind Jamaica with the UK, Mr. Wedderburn welcomed the representatives from the 30 British companies who were participating in the exhibition and assured them of Jamaica’s commitment to ensuring the implementation and observation of the best practices in both exporting and importing goods and services.
Other participants in the three-day food and beverage event, which was organised by the British High Commission, included representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Barbados ,Guyana, and local companies such as Red Stripe and LASCO.
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