Commercial hub for Jamaica

Thailand is to consider the establishment of a commercial hub in Jamaica, from which it would conduct business with the rest of the Caribbean.

To this end, a trade delegation from Thailand comprised of business leaders and government officials, could visit the island in the ensuing months for talks with local counterparts.

This was conveyed to Prime Minister P. J. Patterson on Tuesday (June 14), by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Surakiart Sathirathai, during a bilateral meeting held in Doha, Qatar. Mr. Patterson was in Doha as Chair of the Second South Summit of the G-77 and China.

Mr. Patterson welcomed the proposal, noting that it was a timely one, given the creation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that is to come into being by year end. He said Jamaica was already a major trans-shipment point for goods coming into the region and was therefore a suitable location.

The Prime Minister said the country looks forward to receiving a delegation from Thailand to further explore the possibilities from trade and investment in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.