A recently signed partnership between the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) and DHL Jamaica will see members of the productive sector benefiting from logistical support expertise by the international freight and cargo management company.

“The partner is really to provide JMEA members with access to movement of goods, whether it be finished products or raw materials. Whether they are importing or exporting those products, we have put together a special pricing programme exclusively for JMEA members, where they will get preferential rates when they choose to open an account for us, Michelle Anderson, commercial manager at DHL Jamaica told Jamaica Observer at the signing ceremony held at DHL’s office on Haining Road in New Kingston.

She emphasised that the aim of the partnership is to also support the growth of companies looking to export their goods.

As per the agreement, DHL Jamaica will assign a member of its sales team to any JMEA member who signs up for an account to share the company’s expertise in global trade. Shipments are not limited to large-volume or small-volume items as Anderson joked that DHL can move anything from the size of an envelope to an elephant.

DHL facilitates the movement of cargo up to 2,000 kilogrammes to and from 221 countries across the world. The company has been operating in Jamaica for over 30 years and has hubs in Florida, USA; Panama; and the ABC Islands; and Trinidad and Barbados in the eastern Caribbean.

According to Anderson, “The beauty about DHL is having that single partner that can do everything for your business, whether it’s small or it’s large. Irrespective of the part of the world that the shipping is to or from, we’re able to provide support.”

“E-commerce is an area that a lot of businesses need support for and that is our expertise, so we think we can add value to the members [of the JMEA],” she further told Sunday Finance.

Welcoming the partnership with DHL, JMEA Executive Director Kamesha Blake thanked the leadership of both entities for working tirelessly toward making the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) a reality. She noted further that the partnership will augur especially well for micro and small businesses that are members of the lobby group and have embarked on capitalising on e-commerce as a medium into export, and that it will contribute to the JMEA’s advocacy.

“So we find that as we encourage our members to export…they will require the services of DHL to start penetrating new markets. So we welcome the partnership, especially for [micro and small members] and we will definitely be speaking to them about how DHL can help them,” Blake stated, adding that the organisation will use direct communication channels and social media to inform its members about the MOU.

DHL will also be communicating with JMEA members about the benefits of the partnership and will promote same on its website.

For JMEA President John Mahfood, the MOU with DHL will add a new element of efficiency to businesses, having witnessed DHL’s contribution to improving the business process of State-run agencies such as the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency.

“As I stressed to you before, some of the things that you’re involved in like the passport office and others, I’ve seen a great efficiency from your involvement. I think it’s important, too, that international companies contribute technology conveying a sense of efficiency with Jamaican companies, and I really welcome overseas companies which can make us better,” Mahfood outlined.

He added: “Obviously, from our standpoint, the JMEA want to see it easy for small enterprises to be able to export their products. It’s not that easy for a small company who doesn’t have existing distributors overseas to break into the export market, but with e-commerce, there is this opportunity to export anywhere in the world. I believe this is for us at the JMEA as e-commerce is an important area of growth for small businesses.”

The JMEA president also pointed out that the agreement will also redound to reduced cost to manufacturers and exporters given the preferential rate offered.