A one-day conference, aimed at showcasing the range of trade and investment opportunities in Jamaica will be held at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights and Executive Meeting Centre in New Jersey, United States this Friday.

The event, themed ‘Beautiful Beaches, Bountiful Business’ is being organised by the Jamaica Diaspora Trade and Investment Council Northeast Region, United States.

Fifteen Jamaican and United States-based companies in areas of construction, renewable energy, agriculture, information technology, finance, manufacturing, export, health and wellness tourism are expected to participate in the investment conference and trade exposition.

According to Trade Council Sector leader for the organising body, Beverly Smith, the response from companies has been tremendous.

“We are expecting that the number of exhibitors will increase,” she said, noting that some 250 participants are expected to attend.

According to Smith, the event is an attempt to showcase Jamaica as the place to do business at this time and also to present another dimension to the island.

Meanwhile, Dr Harold Mignott, chairman of the Jamaica Diaspora Foundation Northeast Region, said that the New Jersey conference will provide “the most convenient way to promote your product or service to an elite group of investors and sophisticated business leaders at this time”.

“Hopefully, this will be the start of a major trade and investment initiative bringing together key business interests from both sides to learn and share ideas about business opportunities in Jamaica,” he said, noting that the one-day event will afford one-on-one meetings between buyers and sellers.