BMA thanks BIDC for its support
THE Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) is being commended for the support it continues to give the local manufacturing sector.
Kudos have come from President of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA), Jason Sambrano, while he spoke yesterday morning at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre during a ceremony to launch the three-day Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition (BMEX). He explained that as the BMA’s primary development partner, BIDC continues to help push and promote local manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing sectors.
“This year, they have again played a significant role in facilitating our Buyers’ Programme, which is a value-added service to the expo. For those of you who may not be aware, each year we invite interested buyers, regionally and internationally, who gain exposure to our products and assist us in getting our products on the ground in the export markets,” he said.
Sambrano added, “The importance of this is huge as it helps create exposure for local brands, but more importantly, it helps earn much-needed foreign exchange. For so many businesses, a cor-porate goal is breaking past the local boundaries and launching their products to the world; this programme has done a fantastic job in that regard.”
Moreover, the BMA president said that through the programme, companies have realised “phenomenal results”. He added that the difference between such an initiative and outward missions, is that the buyers are already interested in doing business in Barbados and with Barbadians, and he explained this sets the stage for local manufacturers and producers to “step up to the plate and give of their all”.
Sambrano’s comments came as he also referred to linkages the BMA has been establishing with a number of educational entities. Noting that many manufacturers need employees who can “hit the ground running” when they come to work with them, he said they have been developing partnerships with entities such as the TVET Council and the Barbados Vocational Training Board.
“Of course there would need to be additional training, particularly in areas relevant to the organisation, but we need well-trained individuals for the sector… The Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic continue to turn out a wealth of talent, some of which you will witness this weekend; for example, our much anticipated BMEX Fashion Extravaganza, which by the way is entitled ‘Ultimate Masquerade’. Over the years, so many of our young people who are part of this initiative, have gone on to make their name on the international stage and it all started here at BMEX,” he added. (JRT)