Jamaica could begin exporting fresh produce and related value added products to South Korea, following a promotion of the country’s produce at the recently held Korea Importers Association’s (KOIMA) 13th Import Goods Fair.

Last Thursday, a local delegation including IRIE Rock Yaad Spa, Southside Distributors Limited, HoneyKist Apiaries Limited, Central Food Packers, Tijule Limited and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) participated in the South Korea-based event, which was led by increased interest in tropical fruit products and other Jamaican fresh produce in the market, according to a JAMPRO news release.

The manufacturers seek to use the Import Goods Fair — the only Import-Centred Exhibition in South Korea — to facilitate meetings with large South Korean supermarkets and distributors and hundreds of consumers attending the event. The event has a strong focus on providing a platform for participating companies to network with potential business partners.

Jamaica currently exports coffee, rum and spirits, aluminium, electrical parts of machinery, sauces and other products to South Korea. JAMPRO wants to further diversify the country’s exports to South Korea, having identified a demand for Jamaican fresh produce, exotic fruits and juices and other Jamaican value-added products in East Asia.

Claude Duncan, vice-president of Investment Promotion at JAMPRO, says the agency’s Asian market penetration strategy has been successful, “based on continued efforts to build awareness around Jamaica as an investment destination and home to great products, we have seen an increase in interest coming from the Asian region for products and investments. We will ardently pursue these opportunities and provide the capacity building assistance Jamaican companies require to meet the demand for Jamaican products,” he said.

JAMPRO has noted that many small- to medium-sized exporters need intense support to improve their competitiveness in the global market. The agency partnered with the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to execute the FINPYME ExportPlus Jamaica programme last year, which provided capacity building workshops and individual technical assistance to participating local exporters. The partnership was re-initiated with IIC and the entity provided financial support for four FINPYME companies to participate in the trade mission to South Korea.

Duncan explained, “With this assistance from our partners, Jamaican companies will be able to improve their export readiness for markets such as South Korea. We are pleased with the companies’ development and look forward to the positive results of this trade mission.”