U.S. Ambassador Says the United States is Open For Business

U.S. Ambassador, His Excellency Donald Tapia is encouraging Jamaican businesses to continue looking to the United States as a market for their products. Speaking earlier this week during a virtual mingle for members of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica, Ambassador Tapia said throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between the United States and Jamaica has remained resilient. He noted, however, that given the disruption of global supply chains, there are a lot of opportunities for Jamaica, with several U.S. companies expressing interest in investing in Jamaica. The Ambassador who is AMCHAM Jamaica’s Honorary Chairman said the island can serve as a hub for light manufacturing, as well as expand the business process outsourcing sector.  He also said the U.S. Embassy is very interested in helping upgrade Jamaica’s telecoms infrastructure and transition to 5G technology

.Ambassador Tapia said the U.S. government is happy to support any U.S. company wishing to enter the Jamaican market and also be a resource for Jamaican companies looking to enter the U.S. market.He however bemoaned the fact that Jamaica has not even started to scratch the surface of the US$600-million-dollar U.S. agricultural sector.Noting the critical role that the tourism sector plays in the Jamaican economy, the U.S. Ambassador noted that in 2019, Jamaica welcomed over four million visitors, the majority of whom were Americans. He said he has been in discussion with airlines encouraging them to maintain connections between the United States and Jamaica as a part of efforts to help the sector reopen to U.S. tourists while managing risks.

Ambassador Tapia gave Jamaica high marks for the key steps it has taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19.  He said the U.S. government has provided over US$4 million dollars to fund test kits, laboratory upgrades, and other essential services.  It has also provided a field hospital valued at over US$ 800,000 dollars giving Jamaica the capacity for 70 extra beds to manage COVID-19 patients.

During the off the record question and answer segment, the Ambassador also addressed several issues raised by the AMCHAM members. In her opening remarks, AMCHAM President Mrs. Ann-Dawn Young Sang said the work of trying to attract investment and develop further trade ties does not stop because of a pandemic. She said we must keep pushing forward and encouraged members to use the crisis to find the opportunities. Mrs. Young Sang noted that AMCHAM Jamaica has been working hard at identifying opportunities, providing a medium/platform for information to be shared, seeking to assist and facilitate partnerships, and collaborations for its members. The AMCHAM Jamaica mingle provides AMCHAM members with the opportunity to get updates from the U.S. Ambassador and have a frank and open dialogue.  It also gives the Ambassador and members the opportunity to engage in unbridled banter. The mingle was sponsored by A. Peart Advisory Services, with host Christopher “Johnny” Daley.