US Ambassador challenges Portland businesses to seize opportunities

BY EVERARD OWEN Observer writer owene@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, January 13, 2012

PORT ANTONIO, Portland: United States Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater, yesterday challenged business interests in Portland to seize opportunities for partnership with the United States government in eco-tourism and value added products.

Bridgewater was addressing the Portland Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting at the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio.

“I have found Portland to be a lavishly lovely parish with pristine beaches, caves and waterfalls just waiting to be explored and expanded, not at a mega resort, surrounded by the quaint beauty of Portland,” she said.

“I want to talk about the things that make Portland special. You already know the special challenges you face, but Portland is also poised to take advantage of special opportunities, and the US Mission is prepared to provide support in some areas," she added.

Some two million Americans eagerly visit Jamaica each year and many of these visitors experience Jamaica through the prism of all-inclusive resorts or cruise ships. But many tourists want a different experience, one that includes bird watching and hiking.

"The potential for ecotourism is tremendous as Portland is home to Reach Falls, Frenchman’s Cove, and the Blue Mountains. For tourists seeking “ultra high-end tourism” with impeccable, personalised service, Gee Jam and the Errol Flynn Marina are possible destinations. I have toured Gee Jam and visited the state-of-the-art recording studio where I learned artists such as the late Amy Winehouse recorded, and where the internationally famous Jolly Boys record," she said.

Approximately 46 per cent of Jamaican exports enter the US market duty free under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). Altogether, over 90 per cent of Jamaica’s exports to the United States enter our market duty-free, either through the CBI or the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), or duty-free under Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment. The most recent addition of benefits was the extension of the benefits of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) from 2010, until September 30, 2020.

She said despite these programs that make exportation to the United States very favorable for Jamaicans, Embassy staff have noticed that large Jamaican exporters take advantage of these opportunities. But smaller Jamaican businesses which comprise the bulk of Portland’s economy often miss this opportunity.

"We stand ready to assist the business community to explore the tremendous potential of the Caribbean Basin Initiative” she challenged.

The customer service firm, Convergys, announced its intent to open a new call center in Jamaica.

“Other American firms have told us they wish to invest in Jamaica’s hospitality, energy and business services sectors, and this makes perfect sense. Jamaica boasts a richly talented workforce that is strategically located to some of the largest markets in the world. By establishing a local office that markets Portland as an attractive place to visit and invest, the parish could not only increase tourism revenues, but also propel foreign direct investment," Bridgewater said.