FOREIGN Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh says Jamaica’s participation in overseas trade expositions is an excellent avenue to expand Brand Jamaica.

Baugh will be travelling to Florida today to address the Jamaica/USA Chamber of Commerce’s Jamaican Expo 2009 at the Sunset Lakes Community Centre in Miramar.

The expo runs September 3-4, under the theme ‘Buy Jamaican – Brand We Love’.

“It is important for us to attend expos in other countries. We need to encourage people from other countries, because then we expose our goods to the world,” Baugh said.

Some 19 local companies, members of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association and the Jamaica Exporters Association, led by Jamaica Trade and Invest, formerly JAMPRO – the Government’s investment promotion arm – will be participating.

The trip is seen as a good opportunity to reach out to the Jamaican Diaspora in Florida and other investors, as part of the JTI’s efforts to boost cross-border trade and investment opportunities.

Baugh noted that Jamaica can only benefit from participating in the exposition, especially in its promotional and marketing campaigns.

“If we want to develop and be competitive, we have to go and see what they are exporting, look at the quality of their exports and make sure that we are very competitive with them,” he said.

Local manufacturers and exporters whose products will be displayed at the Florida exposition include Trout Hall Limited; Easi-Spice, spices and seasonings; First World Imports, which produces the Caribbean Sunshine line of canned fruits, vegetables and juices; Electric Arc (Jamaica) Limited (ELARC), electrodes; Lasco; Seprod, Tetley Jamaica; Cooyah, fashions; and Central Food Packers.

Additionally, products from JMA members including Mackchem Chemicals; Parfums Jamaica; West Best Foods; Hak Has Limited and Crimson Dawn; as well as cultural arts and designs from interests in the local fashion industry will also be on display.

The JTI’s efforts will be boosted with the setting up of a business information and meeting booth within the display area, which will facilitate meetings and enquiries from persons attending the event.