BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The President of the Caribbean Producers Affiliation (CMA), Ramsay Ali, says regional producers’ associations are engaged on medium- to long-term progress methods aimed toward rising the sector’s contribution to financial progress by as much as 30 p.c.
The CMA, which includes Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, and Dominica, anticipates a large enhance in jobs as soon as the sector expands its exports to regional and worldwide markets.
“A practical medium-term purpose is to develop this contribution to 5-10% of Gross Home Product (GDP), and in the long run, by way of sustained coverage assist and diversification efforts, to realize 10-20 per cent of GDP (Gross Home Product),” stated Ali, the fast Previous President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Companies Affiliation (GMSA).
Guyana’s manufacturing firms are positioning themselves to scale up and provide vital inputs to the nation’s increasing infrastructure, housing, and logistics sectors. This creates new alternatives for each native and overseas traders to companion in constructing out the commercial provide chain that helps nationwide growth,” stated Ali, the chief government officer of Sterling Merchandise.
He’s one in every of six presidents of regional producers’ associations whose views are featured within the “Manufacturing Sector Report” within the 2025 version of Caribbean Enterprise & Journey, which identifies funding alternatives in manufacturing throughout every of the CMA member international locations.
Dale Parson, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Producers Affiliation (TTMA), acknowledged that the affiliation has outlined a daring, multipronged technique to extend Trinidad and Tobago’s non-energy exports from TT$6.2 billion to TT$10.6 billion (roughly US$1.6 billion) by 2030.
“The TTMA believes that ideally, the manufacturing sector would purpose for 25-30 per cent GDP contribution within the medium time period, particularly with continued authorities incentives and regional commerce growth.”
Rakeesh Bernard, President of the Barbados Producers Affiliation (BMA), acknowledged that the affiliation goals to extend the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP from roughly six p.c to between seven and 15 p.c.
“This may be performed by rising the agro-processing facet, bettering value-added meals and beverage manufacturing, in addition to cosmetics, and advancing export diversification by participating and increasing into new markets, and adopting digital commerce and technological platforms,” stated Bernard.
Quick previous president of the Jamaica Producers and Exporters Affiliation (JMEA), Sydney Thwaites, stated funding alternatives in Jamaica’s
The manufacturing sector continues to develop, notably in areas that assist import substitution for objects corresponding to fundamental meals merchandise, packaging supplies, cleansing brokers, and family merchandise.
All the Caribbean producer associations recognized rising commerce missions and exploring regional and non-traditional markets, corresponding to Panama, Colombia, and Costa Rica, as a key technique to drive exports.
“The three latest Jamaican commerce missions to Georgetown have been removed from symbolic,” stated Thwaites, including, “the outcomes have been each fast and promising. A number of Jamaican companies have already secured contracts, notably within the building and know-how sectors, the place Guyana’s infrastructure increase is producing robust demand for supplies and providers.”
Marguerite Desir, President of the St. Lucia Producers’ Affiliation (SLMA), goals to extend the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP from the present 6 p.c to 10 p.c.
The Dominica Producers Affiliation President, John Robin, stated his affiliation is drawing on the in depth expertise of Trinidadian producers in its drive to considerably enhance manufacturing, together with for bottled water, condiments, furnishings, and craft objects.
