JAMAICA: ‘Produce Local and Export Global’ says Metry Seaga, President of JMEA

#Kingston, October 9, 2018 – Jamaica – Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) President, Metry Seaga, has charged manufacturers and exporters to “produce local and export global”.  He was speaking at the JMEA awards gala held on Saturday (October 6) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.  Mr. Seaga said that manufacturing is showing positive signs with good growth numbers each quarter.

“I personally am very bullish on our little island and what it can do on the international stage in the business of music, the arts, sports, manufacturing and exports… . There is a whole world out there, a big lucrative market. Let us resolve to continue to be a part of the solution to make Jamaica a superstar for all to look at and envy,” he noted.

Mr. Seaga told the gathering that manufacturers and exporters are contributing positively to the development of Jamaica through job creation; training unskilled persons; supporting professionals such as nurses, police and teachers; cleaning up the environment and other corporate social activities.

During the awards ceremony, the Seprod Group of Companies walked away with the major awards for the evening – the Governor General’s Award for Exporter of the Year 2017, the Governor General’s Award for Manufacturer of the Year, and the Prime Minister’s Award for Large Champion Exporter.

Other winners were Bureau of Standards Jamaica, which received the Pauline Gray Award for Best Support Service; Red Stripe,  the Energy Efficiency Award and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award; Crafton Holdings Limited, the Nicola Gordon Rowe Buy Jamaican Award; ARC Limited, the Quality and Standards Award; J Wray & Nephew Limited, the Robert Lightbourne Award for Productivity and Competitiveness; Your True Shade Cosmetics, the Ambassador Peter King Award for New Exporter of the Year; Crafton Holdings, the Ray Hadeed Award for Best Micro, Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprise; and Newport Fersan, the Charles Henderson Award for Breakthrough Product of the Year.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams; and Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, were among the specially invited guests at the event.

Mrs. Williams handed over the Prime Minister’s Award for Large Champion Exporter on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

Release: JIS

Contact: Ainsworth Morris

Photo Captions:

Header: Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, has a light moment with Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), and President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA), Metry Seaga, during the JMEA’s awards gala held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Saturday (October 6).

Insert: Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public, Hon. Fayval Williams (second right), handing over the Robert Lightbourne Award for Productivity and Competitiveness to J. Wray & Nephew Limited representatives (from left) Sean Davis, Lily-Marie Hall and Tamara Brown, at The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) awards gala held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Saturday (October 6).

Photos by R. Fraser