New Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) president Francis Kennedy will introduce a business services desk during his administration, but he also plans to reinvigorate or expand several programmes likely to give the 180-membership base an operating edge.

Kennedy said at his election Tuesday that JCC members have consistently been asking for assistance in tapping the service of resource professionals at better prices, in areas such as accounting, legal, financial services and marketing.

He is ready to deliver.

"Initially, the JCC will be establishing a database of various service providers who can offer the business services required at a reasonable price," Kennedy said.

He also plans to expand the international trade desks to include countries such as Panama, Chile, Columbia, Brazil, Nigeria and Ghana. These, he said, will follow the model of Jamaica-Trinidad Trade Desk (JTTD) which commenced operations in June 2012, with sponsorship from Jamaica Biscuit Company.

The JTTD's members include JCC, Jamaica Manufacturers' Association, The Jamaica Em-ployers' Federation, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association and Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Kennedy also proposes to revive the dormant Briefing Room project dealing with consultancies, and the Legs and Regs programme aimed at simplifying bureaucratic laws and processes.

And, he will revisit one of his own pet interests - the redevelopment of downtown Kingston and Kingston Harbour shoreline.

"At the present time, this project is in stall mode caused by turfing by various private, public, and NGO interests," the JCC president said.

The JCC's drafted proposal focuses on preparation and implementation of an economic development master plan and an urban development plan.

It calls for the establishment of a joint private sector-public sector-NGO development council, "driven by the private sector" to create the two plans and award contracts for their implementation, he said.

Other initiatives under the Kennedy presidency will include:

An angel network: select monthly gathering of potential investors to evaluate and possibly invest to new ventures;

E-Blast: a fortnightly missive of trade opportunities, new financing windows, etc; and

Development of smart partnerships: with entities such as the Mona School of Business and Management and International Research Council.

Kennedy expects that his agenda might be costly to implement so he also plans to reactivate the Chamber's finance and funding committee.

business@gleanerjm.com