Marks commends US agency for maintaining support

JAMAICA'S AMBASSADOR to the United States, Audrey Marks, has lauded the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for its support extended to Jamaica since its inception in 1981.

Among the areas of support noted were the US$450,000 in grants for the Sangster International Airport expansion project and, more recently, the grant of US$820,000 to assist the Government with the successful divestment of Air Jamaica.

Marks underscored her Government's appreciation for the US agency's vital collaboration when she met with USDTA director Leocadia Zak last week at the agency offices, in Arlington, Virginia. Zak was accompanied by USTDA director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Nathan Younge, and country manager for Jamaica, Jacob Flewelling.

It was pointed out that the USTDA had provided assistance with financing a reverse trade mission for participants from the energy sector to observe waste-to-energy technology, and for the National Water Commission (NWC) to implement a waste- water management system. The USTDA has also financed the participation of air traffic controllers in a meeting in the USA.

Agency pleased

The USTDA director said she was pleased with the success of Air Jamaica's divestment and the progress of the NWC project. Marks noted the difference which the upgrade of the airport, the development of the road network, and the water and sewerage systems had made increased investment opportunities in the western region of Jamaica.

She pointed out that in the last 10 years this has led to an addition of 5,000 hotel rooms and job creation and, most recently, the building of a convention centre to complement the improved tourism product.

The ambassador informed the USTDA officials that the focus was now on the redevelopment of the capital city of Kingston, to replicate the investment opportunities being seen in western Jamaica.