benefits


Advocacy Support

The JMEA is steadfast in its commitment to the un-inhibited growth of our local businesses, and to securing the policy, financial and infrastructure support they need to achieve their fullest potential. The Association continuously makes strong representation to the government on matters impacting manufacturers and exporters, challenging our leaders to do better at creating a more growth-oriented environment for all Jamaicans.

Key Advocacy Areas:

  1. Tax Reform
  2. Productive Input Relief for raw materials, capital equipment and packaging
  3. Offset and Set-Aside Regimes in Government Procurement Policy
  4. Strengthening of Linkages
  5. Affordable and Accessible Factory Space
  6. Funds at Single Digit Interest Rate Financing


The JMEA’s mission is to strengthen our member companies through representation, services, support, and the leveraging of networks to ensure that the manufacturing and export sectors create sustainable growth and quality jobs for Jamaica.


Access to Finance

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) provides improved access to finance through partnerships with the financial sector, private equity schemes and grant funding.

Our partnerships include non-collateralized loan facility with EXIM Bank, capacity development under DBJ’s Voucher for Technical Assistance Programme and other grant funding opportunities where available

Key Areas

Innovation Grant from New Ideas to Entrepreneurship (IGNITE)

This is a partnership project between the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and three Business Service Intermediaries (BSIs) including the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA). IGNITE is a two-year grant project which targets innovative start-ups within specific key sectors, to help them accelerate the growth of their businesses. Beneficiaries received up to J$4 million dollars.

Initiated in 2015, the JMEA is responsible for supervising IGNITE beneficiaries over the life of the project to ensure proper financial management of the IGNITE funds and the project’s successful implementation.

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Voucher For Technical Assistance (VTA)

The Voucher for Technical Assistance Programme (VTA) is an initiative of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). VTA is a capacity building programme for Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and is administered through Business Development Organizations (BDOs) such as the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA). Under the programme, services are offered to the MSME sector at a seventy percent (70%) discount underwritten by the DBJ.

The JMEA provides the following:
  1. Mentorship and Coaching
  2. Business Plan
  3. Marketing and Promotional Plan
  4. Market Research
  5. Business Process Improvement
  6. Training Programmes
  7. Branding
  8. Strategic Plans

The Programme was developed to improve access to financing for MSMEs where poor financial record-keeping, inadequate business plans, management incapacities, and inadequate business knowledge were among the significant impediments to accessing such financing. It is expected to promote the overall sustained development and success of small businesses.

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Business Development

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) provides business development support primarily through capacity building and back-office services and solutions. The JMEA has capable expertise, networks, tools, and experiences that can assist you at various stages of your business needs.

Key Support

Standards and Quality

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) assists our member companies with implementing and acquiring required local and international standards through JMEA’s partnership with the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ). Members receive a 20% – 25% discount.

Creating Linkages

Our members gain direct access to the Tourism industry, distributive trade networking and business to business opportunities through the Association’s linkage events and partnerships.

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Our events such as Expo Jamaica, Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE), Annual Awards Gala, Peer Share for Growth Sessions, Seminars/Workshops and Mingles are the ideal occasions to learn, network and form meaningful and lucrative partnerships.

Other Areas

  1. Capacity Building Workshops
  2. Advisory Board for MSME.
  3. Peer Share for Growth Mentorship Series
  4. Guidance on Starting and Operation a manufacturing and/or Export Business.
  5. Assisting investors and non-members with issues such as awareness and access to incentives, financing options, business plans, audit appeals, factory space, among others.


Export & Market Research Services

The JMEA persistently pursues local, regional, and international buyers/markets and partnerships for local businesses to increase sales and expand export. We are also focused on providing the relevant assistance for helping our exporters to expand into new markets and increase their revenue opportunities.

Domestic & Export Sales Opportunities

The JMEA provides several platforms to promote member products locally and overseas, including our flagship biennial Expo Jamaica, our biennial Jamaica International Expo (JIE), the Buy Jamaican Build Jamaica Campaign and various trade missions.

Other key events include Tourism Linkages Network, Speed Networking Event and Christmas In July.

Market Resources and Opportunities

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Without a clear picture of their target market(s), most businesses try to appeal to everyone and usually end up reaching no one. Let us help you identify high potential markets, analyze market access conditions, reach target markets and create distribution channels through export promotion. We understand your desire to do more business beyond our borders, increase brand awareness and improve your bottom line.

Our Services

  1. Market Research
  2. Market Pointers
  3. Market Intelligence Training
  4. ASYCUDA World Training
  5. ISO 9001:2015 Training
  6. Good Manufacturing Practices Training (GMP)
  7. Good Agricultural Practices Training (GAP)
  8. Mentorship and Guidance
  9. Provision of Key Industry Information
  10. Export Forums


Marketing & Promotions

Boosting support for Brand Jamaica is big on the agenda of the JMEA. We are dedicated to improving market access and recognition for our locally made products and services through key networking and promotional events. We believe in fostering opportunities that will provide our members with the engagement and linkages their business needs.

Support includes:

  1. Networking and Promotional Events
  2. Marketing & Public Relations
  3. Advertising Opportunities: Newspaper supplements, Internal newsletter, website, social media pages, year planner
  4. Active Social Media Platforms
  5. Networking Events


Advertising & Promotions

Advertise your business where it matters through our email blasts, bulletins, annual newspaper supplements, magazines, newsletter, website, social media pages, year planner and other activities. We provide several platforms to promote member products locally and overseas, including our flagship biennial Expo Jamaica, our biennial Jamaica International Expo (JIE), the Buy Jamaican…Build Jamaica Campaign and various trade missions.

Buy Jamaican Campaign

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has consistently propelled the “Buy Jamaican… Build Jamaica” message, with the assistance of the National Commercial Bank since 2004. Many of our local products are produced at world-class standards and are competitively priced so that consumers can easily choose to buy local over imported goods.

Supporting our own products and services helps to keep our fellow Jamaicans employed, creates new job opportunities, and generate revenue for the Government to implement socio-economic programmes to improve education, health and infrastructure as well as enhance the quality of life of all our people. Additionally, buying Jamaican helps to retain valuable foreign exchange and to reverse the country’s trade deficit.

Trade Opportunities

The provision of several platforms to promote members’ products locally and overseas including our flagship biennial Expo Jamaica and Jamaica International Expo (JIE), the Buy Jamaican… Build Jamaica Campaign and trade missions.


THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Membership Categories

The JMEA offers four (4) membership categories:

Ordinary Members:

Individual, firm, Limited Liability Company or other legal person:

  1. Engaged in manufacturing and or export, or
  2. That provides/likely to provide services to or for exporters, or
  3. That are likely to become exporters.

Member Associations

Association of persons or group of companies interested in any business.

Associate Members

Other individuals or companies that do not qualify in the categories above.

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Micro and Small Members

An entity that employs 1-5 persons, in operation for fewer than seven (7) years with gross annual sales not exceeding J$15 million.

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