Stern urges Diaspora to help strengthen 'Brand Jamaica'

BY ALESIA EDWARDS Observer staff reporter alesiae@jamaicaobserver.com

Saturday, June 18, 2011

OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Members of the Jamaican Diaspora are being encouraged to market Brand Jamaica, which according to state minister in the ministry of industry and commerce Michael Stern has become very strong.

Stern said Jamaica was seeing great success in a number of areas, including sports, culture, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.

"We must now challenge ourselves to maximise brand Jamaica by capitalising and building on this and so we are looking to you the Diaspora to promote Brand Jamaica to your friends, co-workers and your neighbours, Stern said.

"We need you to be ambassadors for the Jamaican brand, enabling its continued growth and expansion in the international area."

Stern was addressing delegates yesterday penultimate fourth biennial Jamaica Diaspora Convention at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann where he reiterated government's commitment to implementing policies and interventions to further secure the country's long term growth and prosperity.

Stern said there were vast opportunities to strengthen Jamaica's economy through tangible investments, while maximising band Jamaica and that members of the Diaspora can play a vital role in that regard.

He pointed to the modest, but positive, 1.5 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product recorded for the first quarter of the year and said it was good news for Jamaicans both locally and in the Diaspora.

He said Jamaica was performing comfortably when compared to some of its biggest trade partners internationally.

Stern said Government was committed to securing the foundation to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business as envisaged in the National Development Plan, Vision 2030.

He said, among other key issues, Government was moving to develop strong economic infrastructure as well as enabling a positive business environment.

Stern said, among other things, JAMPRO was also implementing a number of strategies geared towards promoting the country in a targeted and focused manner to entrepreneurs worldwide as the place do business on a global scale.

He said those initiatives would also signal to both local and foreign investment communities that Jamaica is open to business and is serious about reducing the impediments of doing business as well as stimulate investor confidence and show Government's commitment to facilitating investment projects .

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Stern urges Diaspora to help strengthen 'Brand Jamaica'