KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton, says the ornamental fish export industry is poised for growth and has the potential to earn the country well-needed foreign exchange.
“I do believe the ornamental fish industry can become for Jamaica what flowers have become for Colombia,” he stated, while addressing the close out ceremony for the Collaborate to Prosper Project at the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) headquarters in Kingston on July 30.
The cut flower industry has become a major contributor to the Colombian economy and is now the nation’s leading non-traditional export and fourth largest earner of foreign exchange after coffee, petroleum, and bananas.
Hylton argued that by tapping into the lucrative ornamental fish export market, which is valued at some US$400 million, Jamaica could see similar success.
He said that he has pledged $1 million from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to The Competiveness Company (TCC) to support the start-up and strengthening of ornamental fish operations within his Western St. Andrew constituency.
“It is expected that this effort will contribute towards micro enterprise development not just in my constituency, but by extension the country,” said Hylton.
The Industry Minister said that to develop the sector it is important that Jamaica has a consistent supply of competitively priced fish. “This means developing a cadre of breeders with sufficient capacity to stock the farms, and low input costs, including the cost of energy,” he noted.
Hylton added that the sector needed a central export facility that can consolidate production and provide the quality control, volume and packing efficiency required for large scale commercial export.
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