Gareth Manning, Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller shares a moment with lpresident-designate of Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO), Robert Gregory (left), and chairman of JAMPEO, Peter Bunting, during the launch of the Brand Jamaica campaign at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston recently.

JAMAICA IS set to earn nearly $7 billion in global media exposure from its staging of the ICC Cricket World Cup, says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

Simpson Miller, who was speaking at the launch of the Brand Jamaica campaign at the Jamaica Pegasus recently, added she noted that the yield from Brand Jamaica would be one of the island's greatest legacies of the ICC Cricket World Cup, leaving behind not only billions dollars in exposure, but the image of Jamaica etched in the minds of at least 1.8 billion people around the world.

These people will include many from non-traditional markets, she noted, such as South Africa, India and Ireland.

Reposition Jamaica

The campaign, which will aim to reposition Jamaica as a prime investment and trade destination , will be spearheaded by Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO) and will also aim to highlight the positive aspects of the country including its rich sporting culture and legacy.

"We are saying to the world that today's Jamaica means business, and we are open for business," Simpson Miller declared.

"What this Brand Jamaica campaign will do is highlight another side of Jamaica, namely, the business side that is energised by our creative power," said Simpson Miller. "It is designed to expand the profile of Jamaica from a cultural icon and leisure destination to one where business also plays a driving role."

Favourable rating

She says Brand Jamaica will allow the country to leverage its assets and competitive advantage as a premier investment destin-ation, and allow it to improve on the nearly $39 billion it attracted in investments between 2000 and 2005.

This strong investment performance, she noted, comes against the backdrop of an equally favourable rating of the country as a business-friendly environment, including its top 10 ranking by the World Bank for its ease in starting a business and its first place ranking by the United Nations as the most e-ready destination in the Caribbean for its inclusion of technology in government services.

Winston Sill /Freelance Photographer

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller shares a moment with president-designate of Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO), Robert Gregory (left), and chairman of JAMPRO, Peter Bunting, during the launch of the Brand Jamaica campaign at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston recently.