President of the Jamaica Manufacturers & Exporters, JMEA, John Mahfood says Jamaica manufacturers should focus on increasing exports within the Caribbean Community, CARICOM.
He says data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, STATIN, show that Jamaica is importing more produce from CARICOM than the country is exporting.
According to STATIN, Jamaica earned just over US $1.4 billion from exports last year.
Wayne Walker reports.
According to Mr. Mahfood, data from STATIN have shown that there has always been an imbalance in trade between Jamaica and CARICOM.
He says local manufacturers shouldn’t rely on the government but focus on increasing their exports to CARICOM.
In the meantime, Managing Director of Carita Jamaica Limited, Rita Hilton says the biggest exports for last year were yam and scotch bonnet pepper.
She explained that added value to produce increases the demand.
