What is the National Export Strategy (NES)?
It is a national strategy driven by the private sector in partnership with the public sector to advance the productivity and competitiveness of firms and industries, while enhancing the business and trade environment, in order to improve Jamaica’s export performance so that its contribution is 1/5 GDP in year 2012.

What is the rationale for developing an Export Strategy?
- To reduce the Balance of trade deficit (imports vs exports)
- Increase Job creation
- Reduce debt
- Improve Jamaica’s competitiveness ranking

Why a National Strategy?

1. To ensure a collaborative approach to addressing the various sector and cross sector issues that impede international competitiveness and export growth by bringing together all stakeholders (both public and private)
2. Economic performance involves a number of unique, sometimes unrelated, sub-sectors.
3. Cross-cutting issues that impede international competitiveness and export growth – an integrated response is needed.
4. A collaborative approach bringing all stakeholders, public and private, together.

What are the targeted industries?

1. Agro-processing (Food & Beverages)
2. Aquaculture
3. Coffee
4. Education
5. Entertainment
6. Information Communication Technology (ICT)
7. Fashion & Minerals

What were the criteria in selecting priority or targeted sectors?
Industries were selected on the following decisive factors: Contribution to GDP, export performance, alignment to Vision 2030, employment & market potential, competitiveness (differentiation, value & price), key constraints and resources needed.

What are the given cross-industry issues that the Strategy aims to address?
Human Capital Development, Innovation & Technology, Cost of Business (Energy & Security), Trade Facilitation, Infrastructure, Business & Export Competency, Finance, Quality Management & Packaging, Trade Information, Trade Promotion and Nation Branding.

What is the overarching objective of the NES?
The NES seeks to galvanise all stakeholders-public and private that have agreed on a set of common objectives, and will now be backed by coordinated actions driven by the NES Secretariat; ensuring that the limited resources available for export development are utilised optimally; and that the actions executed are not only short-term but long term.

Identify the ultimate goals of the NES? What is the time-frame for such achievements?
The NES is expected to:

1. Contribute to overall GDP growth by increasing the export sector’s contribution to GDP from one-fifth to one-third by 2013;
2. Increase the export sector’s contribution to overall employment generation
3. Achieve greater diversification of the export sector

What are some of the identified strengths of the Strategy?

1. Sector level approach – the Strategy is an aggregate of sector-level strategies and utilizes a value chain approach.
2. Effective Public- Private Partnership (PPP) – within and among Ministries and agencies; and among local business representatives and entrepreneurs (public-private).

How will the NES change things? What’s different? The NES will provide:

• Standardized universal and value-added services.
• Business-specific information for entrepreneurs.
• Aggressive dissemination of business information.
• Consistent, affordable, effective & quality advice.
• Training in a wide cross-section of business skills.
• Integrated development & training.
• More affordable quality certification.
• Centralized processing facility.

Why should an exporter be interested in the NES?

• This is a bottom-up strategy driven by the Private Sector
• There is a commitment by private and public sector agencies to make the NES work
• The secretariat will provide support to address the needs of Exporters
• Each of the priority industries has SMART Objectives which, when implemented, will garner increased productivity and competitiveness for the individual exporter and collectively for their industry
• The NES seeks to strengthen Brand Jamaica internationally and assist exporters to capitalize on the value it offers to Jamaica and its export products
• The Jamaican Diaspora are our primary customers of export products
• Export is an imperative for the Jamaican economy

If I wanted to start a business how does the NES help me?
Once you have identified the Sector you are interested in The Secretariat will guide you along the process of starting your business. This entails:

• Helping with business Plan via CFB
• Identifying possible funding sources via CFB
• Business Facilitation through JTI/JBDC
• Business Information via JEA

Who do I contact?
The NES Secretariat at 1 888 429 5NES