Organisers of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) Trade and Innovation Expo (TIE) have expressed satisfaction with this year’s event.
The BMA’s Executive Director, Shardae Boyce, speaking to Barbados TODAY on Monday at Wildey Gymnasium, praised the diversity and quality of products on display, noting many were being introduced to the market for the first time.
BMA Executive Director Shardae Boyce.
“We’ve had a good experience over the last three days, lots to see here at the gymnasium at the Trader Innovation Expo, a lot of new products being launched, and we are happy about that. This is what it’s all about, pushing innovation within Barbados and highlighting products that are ready to export. So we are quite happy with what has been happening over the last three days,” she said.
Among the standout products on display was a newly developed line of ready-to-eat ration packs, created through a partnership between the BMA and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). Designed for convenience, these packs require no cooking or mixing and offer a practical food solution in the event of natural disasters.
“The ration packs, that was quite a hit, over the last three days,” Boyce said. The ration pack is actually ready-to-eat meals, so they differ from the traditional ready-to-eat meals in that you can actually open the can and eat them. So no processing required, no mixing involved. Obviously, we designed them that way because it’s hurricane season and we know anything can happen through a natural disaster.”
Boyce also noted the growing regional and international interest in the expo, which has steadily increased since its relaunch in 2022.
“The truth is that we have been growing year on year. Next year we’re planning some bigger initiatives. We already have persons booked from the international market for next year, so that is something to look out for,” the BMA’s executive director said, adding that there is a need to help local manufacturers expand their exporting capabilities.
“We know trade is bilateral, so as our manufacturers [seek to] export. We know that on the other side we would also have things that persons will want to sell to us. The reality is we cannot manufacture everything here in Barbados, but we can excel in the things that we do great on and also work with other countries to make sure that they expand their trade also.” (SB)
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