“Buy Jamaican” to some might sound like nothing more than a slogan advanced by Jamaican manufacturers to sell products made in Jamaica. Why should I buy Jamaican? What are the products that are made in Jamaica? Can I afford to buy locally made goods? These are some of the questions that may come to your mind? The truth is however, your spending does a lot more than you think, through the multiple linkages that are created.

Take a look at the reasons below.

1. The Job Creation Equation

Jamaican people spending Jamaican dollars on Jamaican products equal Jamaican jobs. These jobs are the foundation of a thriving economy. Furthermore, each manufacturing job creates an additional five to eight jobs.

2. Growth in the Economy

When you buy products made in the Jamaica, you help to keep the Jamaican economy going and growing by keeping your dollars here working for you! To help achieve a sustained economic recovery, our country needs a consumer-led commitment to buying Jamaican-made products.

3. To Produce our way out of Debt

Buying Jamaican products ensures that we are putting money back in our economy and therefore decreasing the country’s debt and keeping local businesses afloat. The ratio of government debt to GDP is above 127.8%. The government has continuously had to depend on borrowing to make up for the fiscal deficit, which has over years resulted in Jamaica’s level of indebtedness. If this is to improve Jamaica MUST produce more!

4. Boost Production in our Businesses/Factories

When we support brand Jamaica by purchasing locally manufactured products, it will eventually contribute to stimulating an expansion in the industry. This will boost production in our businesses and factories, as consumer demand increases. Manufacturers contribute 8.6% to GDP. This statistic was once as high as 19.4% in the early 90’s. A national support for local products can bring the industry back to these higher levels of production.

5. Increase Government Revenue

Manufacturing alone accounted for 20% of total taxes collected for the 2015/2016 financial year. When we buy Jamaican, we rebuild communities, support sports and arts programmes and repair our roads and other infrastructures.

6. Save Foreign Exchange

Jamaica in 2015 had a trade imbalance of US$3,153.3 million. This indicates that as a nation, our demand for US currency was in excess of what we were able to earn. We must begin to substitute these imports with locally produced goods to save foreign exchange.

7. Generate Wealth

Every dollar spent on Jamaican made products, generates two to four times the economic development impact compared to a dollar spent on an equivalent non-Jamaican product. GDP at constant prices per capita was $272,000 in 2015. This was extremely low, given our population size of 2.7 million people.

8. Reduce Imports

The huge Jamaican trade deficit leads to massive, unsustainable borrowing. Debt isn’t good for you and it isn’t good for Jamaica. When you purchase domestically made products, you are actively doing your part to reduce the Jamaica’s trade deficit. Only by keeping our jobs and dollars here at home can we get back to growing Jamaica.

9. Reduce Poverty

The poverty rate was reported to be at 19.9% per the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) 2012. Almost a fifth of the nation is unable to access necessities, support for local products will reduce this statistic.

10. Secure your Future

It’s not always just about finding the lowest prices. It’s about keeping jobs here in Jamaica and our ability to provide for both ourselves and our families. It’s about securing a brighter future for our children. It’s no longer just a nationalistic thing to do, it’s now a must do!

Each time you make a purchase, you impact what happens to the future of your country. The answer to Jamaica’s economic problems is in your own backyard. The answer is: “Buy Jamaican.” So, be mindful of your purchasing decisions and choose wisely. The next time you wonder if you should buy Jamaican, ask yourselves if you can afford not to.