Jamaica could take cotton partnerships to China
18/08/2009
Investment agency Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) is exploring the possibility of joint ventures between the country and China, particularly in the areas of textiles and tourism, the Jamaican government has said.
JTI president, Robert Gregory, hosted a dialogue meeting in Kingston in mid-August involving government officials and entrepreneurs from both countries.
Mr Gregory said that that textiles was a particularly interesting area because of the attraction for Chinese companies of West Indian Sea Island Cotton.
“We grow it here and export the lint to Europe, where they process it into the fine fabric that is input for our world class designers. However, China does that process of creating the fabric from the lint, far cheaper than Europe. So we are very interested in partnering with China in this area,” the JTI President explained. “It is quite possible to outsource the manufacturing to China and for us to control the lion’s share of the value, which is based in intellectual property and the marketing and distribution. So this possibility that we're talking about, is very real to us.”
Officials in Jamaica said the land had enough available land and people to grow the cotton in sufficient quantities to interest Chinese partners. Jamaica earned almost $500,000 from cotton lint exports in 2008.
Speaking at the same meeting, deputy secretary-general of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, Xu Yingxin, said: “What we can do is introduce West Indian Sea Island Cotton to Chinese textile companies and help you to promote (it) in China. If possible, I would like to invite Jamaica to organise a small group to visit China and introduce the product (there).”
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