Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Harold Davis (left), makes a point at the close-out ceremony of the Export Max II Programme and the signing of a memorandum of understanding for Export Max III, at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on November 14. Others (from second left) are: Vice President of Sales and Promotions at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Claude Duncan; Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) President, Michelle Chong; and JAMPRO President, Diane Edwards.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Three entities have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will facilitate capacity building among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and provide them with institutionalised support.

Led by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), the other signatories to the MOU are the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).

The signing of the MOU forms the basis of JAMPRO’s third export development programme, Export Max III, which aims to attract approximately 40 MSMEs for participation.

Vice President of Sales and Promotions at JAMPRO, Claude Duncan, said it is necessary to bring on board the JEA and the JBDC to strengthen the Export Max Programme, which is designed to improve the export business performance and competitiveness of the participating companies.

Duncan was speaking to JIS News following the close-out ceremony of Export Max II and the MOU signing at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on November 14.

“If you think about it, the JBDC does capacity building all the time. The JEA (on the other hand) provides that mentorship that supports getting companies to export. It makes sense to incorporate all three companies to scale (up) the programme,” he said.

Commenting on the Export Max II programme, Duncan noted that the three-year project, which began in 2014 and ended on September 30, 2017, was successful, as there was a 213.4 per cent average growth for the 19 participating companies.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/More_help_for_MSMEs