Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton, alongside Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) is set to lead a delegation of exporters to the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) scheduled to begin today and run until Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Trade and Investment Convention 2012 is one of the largest business-to-business events in the region with a focus on business networking and trade. The convention includes a trade show, a business-education programme and multiple networking events.

This year, TIC promises to showcase 300 exhibitors from around the globe. The Jamaica exporters participating in TIC under JAMPRO's 'Meet Jamaica Pavilion' include Wynlee Group Ltd, Porters Jamaican Ltd, the Ministry of Agriculture's Export Division, Jamaican Teas, P.A. Benjamin, Island Coffees, Sue Tru Caribbean and Southside Distributors.

developing relationship

The minister's visit to Trinidad's TIC is to further cement the developing relationship between the two countries following on the recent visit of Minister of Trade and Industry for Trinidad & Tobago Stephen Cadiz, for Expo Jamaica 2012.

On May 4, Minister Hylton met with exporters interested in the Trinidad and Tobago market as well as members of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) and the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA), at the offices of JAMPRO to discuss the importance of reducing Jamaica's trade imbalance with Trinidad and the need to increase local exports to that viable market.

JAMPRO is collaborating with private-sector organisations such as the JMA and JEA, who will be working with other manufacturers including Seprod, Lasco and Mac's Pharmaceuticals to ensure a strong Jamaican presence at the trade show. Jamaica has participated in TIC for the last two years, and this has served to build interest in local products. According to Berletta Henlon Forrester, JAMPRO's export promotion manager, this mission is strategic and timely coming on the heels of Expo Jamaica. "We're noting increased awareness and interest in Jamaican products, as evidenced by the strong delegation of Trinidadian business persons attending our own Expo Jamaica this year," Henlon Forrester noted.

The need to take advantage of specific market opportunities in Trinidad was also echoed by vice-president of Trade and Business Development at JAMPRO Delaine Morgan. Morgan pointed to Trinidad's US$600M food import bill which was highlighted by Minister Cadiz in a recent session with Jamaica's private sector and the establishment of a trade facilitation help desk in Trinidad to assist Jamaican companies in penetrating that market.