Business etiquette is important for Jamaica to sustain the gains in economic growth made in recent years, according to Metry Seaga, President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). 

How persons treat each other in doing business can determine the levels of investment the country attracts in the long term, Seaga said last Wednesday (November 1). 

Speaking at the opening of the Business and Personal Etiquette (BPE) Conference staged by the consulting firm, Make Your Mark Group (MYMG), Seaga said that Jamaica was experiencing a lack of common decency, respect and ethical conduct which threatened to undo the economic gains made. He challenged participants to “make Jamaica not just economically robust but also socially and morally resilient”. 

“Business etiquette is the very cornerstone on which enduring relationships are built. If we can’t treat each other with respect how can we expect to build lasting business relationships, attract long-term investments or even gain the trust of our citizens?” Seaga asked at the event, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. 

“We have the power to demonstrate that ethical behavior and social responsibilities are not merely options, but essential for sustained economic growth… When we treat each other with dignity we not only pave the way for lasting business relationships but we also cultivate a society that lives by the values of fairness, respect and ethical integrity”, he added. 

Seaga said the PSOJ was playing its role in integrating the fundamentals of business etiquette through Project STAR, the social and economic transformation project being run by the PSOJ with input from a number of stakeholders. 

Also speaking at the conference, Marsha Smith, State Minister in the Ministry of Education and Youth, urged the participants to “embrace continuous learning and develop a growth mindset that encourages curiosity and a thirst for knowledge”.