After a two-year break due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association is now moving quickly to plan for its biennial Expo Jamaica trade fair, which will return in April 2023.
The event will be held April 27-30 at both the National Arena and the National Indoor Sports Centre in an in-person format.
“Expo Jamaica 2023 marks a return to the scale and breadth of pre-pandemic events. Unfortunately, Expo Jamaica was cancelled in April 2020, and only a virtual event was held in October 2021 so the association is extremely excited for the first in-person expo since 2018,” Kamesha Blake stated, the JMEA executive director.
Blake stated that with the JMEA as the lead organizer and the entity is focused on making sure the event offers opportunities for increased trade, investment, and exports. This is also part of the JMEA’s mandate, especially as it is the largest business development organization for the productive sector in the country.
Blake stated that the expo will have a clear theme of “Connecting the World to Jamaica” and will showcase the achievements of local producers. It will also feature a carefully selected display of Jamaican goods and services.
She stated that “the event provides an excellent opportunity to discover and learn more about Jamaican products and services, as it offers an excellent platform for local businesses to market their products as well as strengthen their brands and participate in high-value networking by connecting with both local and international buyers to solidify “business expansion and exports.”
The event’s four-day duration will be split into buyer and consumer days. Buyers and businesses can make business-to business (B2B) connections within the first two days, and then the doors will open in the second two days to thousands more consumers who will visit the booths and sample products.
The expo is considered one of the most important and influential trade shows in the English-speaking Caribbean. It was established in 1971 and has grown in size and popularity over the years. Participants typically come from Europe, North America, and South America. In 2018 the event saw over 220 exhibitors and 570 buyers. It also attracted 21,500 consumers.
“As the world gets over the [novel coronavirus] pandemic, which sees tourists rushing to our shores and large-scale events returning to in-person staging, the JMEA expects a massive turnout for Expo Jamaica,” stated a news release.
