Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (second left) and Chinese Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica, His Excellency, Tian Qi (second right) symbolically displays the signed protocol allowing Jamaica to export lobster from Jamaica to China, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in St. Andrew on September 19. The protocol outlines the sanitary and hygiene conditions necessary to facilitate the export of lobster from Jamaica to China. Others from left are, State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ministry, Ambassador, Marcia Gilbert Roberts and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture an d Fisheries, Dermon Spence.
The Government of Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China have signed a protocol that will facilitate the export of lobster from the island to the Asian country.
It was signed by Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw and Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency, Tian Qi, at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens offices in St. Andrew, on September 19.
The protocol outlines the sanitary and hygiene conditions necessary to facilitate such export and the responsibilities of the local competent authority/veterinary services division in coordination with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC).
In his remarks, Mr. Shaw acknowledged that the agreement represents a “big step in the right direction, because it further expands the market for the export of frozen lobsters into China”.
The Minister urged local and potential stakeholders to comply with the necessary requirements for export.
Mr. Shaw pointed out that the new agreement expands on the memorandum of understanding, which was previously signed by both countries on September 22, 2017 for the export of other fisheries products such as live lobster and queen conch.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dermon Spence informed that export will be able to take place immediately following the signing of the protocol.
His Excellency Tian Qi noted that the protocol is evident of both countries long-established cooperation and friendship.
The Ambassador indicated that trade between both countries reached US$600million, adding that Jamaica’s export to China doubled.
“Jamaica is the largest trade partner of China in the whole Caribbean, and total investment from China to Jamaica reached to $2 billion and created more than 20,000 job opportunities to the local society,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Rainforest Seafood, Brian Jardim noted that the signing of the protocol represents a significant leap forward for the seafood industry.
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