KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a bid to increase export of Jamaican goods and services, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton is leading 18 Jamaican companies on a trade mission to Cuba. The mission will begin on April 20 and is scheduled to end on April 23.

JAMPRO has been working with delegates to secure business meetings with Cuban buyers and potential partners. The delegation includes Berger Paints Jamaica Ltd, Caribbean Cement Company Limited, Digicel Group and other noted Jamaican entities will also be meeting with stakeholders to increase awareness of Jamaican products in the Cuban market, which promises to be lucrative due to Cuba’s population of 11 million and the growing tourism sector.

Both presidents of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) will also be part of the delegation in attendance to represent private sector interests. Brand Jamaica will reportedly be well represented, with companies promoting a wide range of products and services such as pharmaceuticals, paints, chemicals, food, as well as telecommunications.

Diane Edwards, president of JAMPRO, has been working closely with Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, and other Cuban embassy representatives to increase trade between Jamaica and Cuba.

“The response we have received from the Cuban embassy and the Cuban Government representatives has been outstanding. They believe in cementing a Jamaican and Cuban trading relationship and we are happy to have them working with us to bring Jamaican products to their market,”she said.

 Berletta Henlon Forrester, market development manager at JAMPRO, has led JAMPRO’s Cuban initiatives for several years and is excited with the development of interest from Jamaica’s MSMEs.

“This is JAMPRO’s largest trade mission to Cuba in its history; companies see possibilities in the Cuban market and believe that there are opportunities for Jamaican products to succeed. We will continue to work with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade to encourage the export of Jamaican products and services, while looking for new bilateral trade opportunities,” she said.

JAMPRO is focused on strengthening ties with Cuba to encourage export of Jamaican products and to build economic partnerships. The agency looks forward to more positive developments as it executes its Caribbean and Latin American market development strategy for 2015.

The official delegation includes: ADVANTUM, Berger Paints Jamaica Limited, Caribbean Cement Company Limited, Digicel Group, EG Wellness Brands, Grace Kennedy Limited, Gulfray Americas Manufacturing, Hi-PRO (A Division of the Jamaica Broilers Group), Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica Exporters’ Association, Jamaican Teas Limited, Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), LASCO Manufacturing Limited, Lubricating Specialties Company Jamaica Limited, Minott Chemicals, Optimum Trading Limited , Seprod Limited, Transcel Limited, WISYNCO Group Limited and Wynlee.