Jamaican entrepreneurs and business leaders will join other Caribbean and US counterparts at the fifth annual two-day Business Expo and Awards ceremony of the JAUSA Chamber of Commerce (JAUSACC) to be held Thursday, September 3rd and Friday 4th, at the Sunset Lakes Community Center in Miramar.

Under the theme “Buy Jamaican – Brand We Love”, this year’s activities begin on Thursday (Sept. 3) with a Breakfast meeting and panel discussion titled “Serious Business” at 8:30 a.m.

Immediately after, the Jamaica Business Expo will open to the public providing exhibitors the opportunity to display quality products and services, networking, learn about new products from Jamaica, as well as identify potential investments on the island, in an effort to expand their markets to buyers from the Caribbean, Central and Latin America, and across the United States and Europe.

Later that day, Jamaican designers and manufacturers will showcase their prowess in fashions and the visual arts, at a Meet and Greet cocktail reception which will begin at 5:30 p.m.

On Friday (Sept. 4), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh will be the keynote speaker at the annual awards luncheon ceremony beginning at 12 noon.  Six business leaders will be honored for outstanding efforts in entrepreneurship.

JAUSACC President, Ms. Marie Gill has also stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Jamaica Trade and Invest and the Chamber outlining how the Chamber will be further empowered to assist business owners who are seeking to do business in Jamaica and vice versa, the USA.

Jamaican businesses partnering with the Chamber will include Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), the Jamaica Business Development Center (JBDC) and the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA).

Some 800 visitors are expected to participate in activities throughout the two-day Expo where they will also be able to participate in panel discussions as well as private meetings with potential business interests.

As she urged community participation, Ms. Gill continued that the Expo aims at strengthening partnerships and ironing out areas for trade and investment in Jamaica.