Business View Caribbean | June 2019

52 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN JUNE 2019 road, that’s a big presence. We don’t rely on the internet, we rely on face to face, and it’s always better in that regard. Trade shows can be costly, and we are often short staffed to do that.” BVC: Are ‘green’ regulations more prevalent on the island now? Vaswani: “Jamaica has banned single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers. On the whole, the country has been going more sustainable, and eco-friendly. We had intentions of investing in a paper bag manufacturing facility, but I don’t think that will take place until later in the year. Quality Incorporations VII is 90 to 95 percent eco-friendly in all our input and we work very closely with suppliers to fulfill our mandate, as well as our earth’s mandate. We support local industry for our packaging needs, working with local partners in that regard. “The work of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) goes a very long way. The Association has done fantastic work. They continue to foster and instill relationships and be creative in the ways they bring private sector issues to government and government entities to understand the struggle we face on a day-to- day basis. They are a great advocate. Recently, the Exporters’ Association and the Manufacturers’ Association merged, so a lot has come under one roof, which has helped a lot.” BVC: How is the spirit of giving expressed in your company culture? Vaswani: “I get up every day and think – how can you help someone? Because it’s not about helping yourself or having more for yourself. That’s the principle I try to live by. It’s important to focus on building relationships; emphasizing with my staff to love one another and foster these relationships because you never know where life is going to take you. I get it from the elder generation, my father and his brother have always been givers. Recently, for my dad’s 66th birthday, he ordered a giant cake and cut it with the staff and gave them treats. In August, we do back to