In a thrust to increase export numbers, Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) says it has expanded its mandate to be more involved in the day-to-day activities of local companies seeking opportunities outside of Jamaica.

President of the JEA Michelle Chong has outlined at least three strategies that the association will undertake later this year to get more local companies exporting, while improving the country’s trade deficit.

“We don’t just want to be in here answering phones; this year we have expanded our mandate to be out in the field with our members. The main objective of doing that is for us to understand what the environment capacity is [and] where the shortcomings in your business are,” she told exporters and potential exporters at a CEO Discussion Forum recently.

The forum, which was held at the JEA’s head office on Winchester Road in Kingston, sought to inform companies exporting to the United States of the new regulations effective September; one of which requires that each firm involved in the provision of food to US consumers has at least one Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) specifically trained through the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved course in their organisation.

“Those of us in business don’t always understand because we don’t know what we don’t know. So we at the JEA want to build our team so that they will become antennas for your businesses. A team member will come to your office, meet with you and do a small evaluation, bring that knowledge of your business back to hub here, and make recommendations for your business as to what you need to be doing to build it,” Chong stated.

She added that business tasks including financial projections, marketing and human resource capacity will be undertaken under the initiative. The JEA also intends to work closer with the agriculture sector to build capacity and the update exporters on the rules of the target country.

JEA will also be launching in less than two weeks a business centre geared towards providing basic services for individuals from rural Jamaica coming in town to conduct business.

“So if you are in the country and coming to town and you need to make a few phone calls, get some printed documents, we are going to be having a business hub.

“The most important part of the business hub, however, is the fact that we are going to be a form of market intelligence for various businesses. So we will be able to provide global marketing data for our members and non-members so that they can understand the marketplace and develop their business strategy around it,” Chong explained, adding the initiative was a directive from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The JEA will also be exploring an e-commerce platform, particularly for small businesses looking to take their products or services outside of Jamaica.

“We will be building an e-commerce platform. We already have and we are going to be monitoring more closely a form of calling service where individuals can phone in with questions as it relates to exports, marketing and so on. Naturally, there are benefits for members as it relates to the cost of these services,” she said.