Business View Caribbean | August 2022

19 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8 BUREAU OF STANDARDS JAMA I CA (BSJ ) Manufacturers & Exporters Association (JMEA) and renewed an MOU with them.” Through this MOU, companies aligned with JMEA are able to receive certain discounts on services from the BSJ. Dr. Gooden adds, “We also signed a similar MOU with Jamaica Agro Processors Association (JAPA). Last October, we launched a client services program, where MSMEs can contact the BSJ and tell us what they’re trying to achieve. They might be interested in export or developing a new product or testing and we can direct them to where they can get those services, whether at the BSJ or at a sister agency.” The second area of priority is supporting recovery and resilience of MSMEs and other entities. Throughout the COVID-19 period, many businesses throughout Jamaica have been devastated by the pandemic and are just now starting to recover. In that regard, the BSJ have initiated several activities, including the client services program, to help these businesses begin the process of growing the economy again. Standards Jamaica vision is to be the premier customer-focused and technology-driven organization leading the development of the national and regional culture of quality. To achieve that, the Bureau of Standards promotes the international competitiveness of Jamaican producers, facilitates business development and trade, and supports consumer protection by providing standardization, metrology, testing, certification, and training services through visionary leadership, consultations, teamwork, and a committed and motivated workforce. That is the mission statement. The BSJ have identified four priority areas of focus in line with those mission and vision statements. According to Dr. Gooden, “Recognizing that MSMEs (micro, small, medium sized enterprises) are really the drivers of GDP growth, there is a lot of focus on how we can develop smaller businesses. So our first priority area is facilitating a strong MSME sector. We have a number of initiatives to enable this. For example, we have partnered with the Jamaica