Increase Economic Cooperation with Japan, Jamaica’s Tufton Says

Above: Minister Dr Christopher Tufton (JIS Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

There are numerous possibilities for significant expansion of trade and investment with Japan, Commerce Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said at a special JAMPRO luncheon hosting Japanese investors Thursday in Kingston.

Tufton pointed to the development of Jamaica’s coffee industry as an example of the fruits of Jamaican-Japanese cooperation.

“I say, without contradiction, that the development of our coffee industry has been largely due to the contribution of Japanese investors to that industry over the past 30 years, and has benefited the industry significantly, as 80 to 85 percent of Blue Mountain coffee is shipped to Japan,” he said.

Tufton said that Blue Mountain coffee was a “perfect example on which to benchmark and to seek to find other critical strategic alliances that could lead to creating value from a recognition that already exists,” he said.

“There are many possibilities, there is a lot of potential,” he said. “It is for us, now to seek to facilitate the understanding,” he said.

The Japan/CARICOM Economic Trade Mission, which comprises Japanese officials, embassy staff and private stakeholders, began on Wednesday.