The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) is formally endorsing the Kingston Curry Festival as the first major public activation under its revitalised, national ‘Buy Jamaican, Build Jamaica’ campaign.

The endorsement reflects the association’s commitment to partnering with high-impact cultural events that meaningfully showcase Jamaican-made products and drive measurable support for the domestic culinary industry.

Set for March 1 at Devon House, the Kingston Curry Festival is expected to attract more than 2,000 patrons and feature over 60 vendors offering creative curry-infused dishes.

Beyond the culinary experience and family-friendly entertainment, this year’s staging will also highlight the strength and diversity of Jamaica’s manufacturing sector.

As a nation known for its rich culinary heritage, Jamaica’s sauces, seasonings, and condiments represent some of the country’s most dynamic manufactured product categories.

According to Kamesha Blake, executive director of the JMEA, the decision to endorse and activate at the festival was both strategic and natural.

“Curry is an all-time favourite in Jamaica’s culinary culture. But behind every great curry dish are Jamaican manufacturers producing the seasonings, sauces, and packaging that bring those flavours to life. Our endorsement of the Kingston Curry Festival reflects our confidence in the event as a powerful platform to elevate those brands and connect consumers directly to local industry.”

When patrons enjoy a curry dish at the festival, they are also engaging with local brands such as Walkerswood, Betapac, Easispice, Grace, Eatons, Island Spice, Grays Pepper Products, Home Choice, Portland Authentic Jerk, and Spur Tree Spices — companies producing the inputs that make every dish possible.

Through a dedicated Buy Jamaican booth and the participation of several member companies, the JMEA will place Jamaican-made products front and centre. Rather than focusing solely on finished dishes, the activation will spotlight the locally produced ingredients behind them—reinforcing brand visibility, strengthening consumer awareness, and encouraging more intentional purchasing decisions at the point of sale.

Blake emphasised that the endorsement goes beyond symbolic support.

“By aligning the Buy Jamaican Campaign with a major cultural food event, we are deliberately connecting national economic priorities to everyday consumer experiences. Consistent domestic demand strengthens manufacturers’ ability to expand operations, sustain jobs, invest in innovation, and remain competitive in an increasingly import-driven marketplace.”

President Kathryn Silvera, who made the revival of the Buy Jamaican, Build Jamaica campaign a key part of her mandate, underscored the broader economic importance: “When consumers choose Jamaican-made products, they directly support local industry, strengthen businesses, and contribute to economic growth. Events like the Kingston Curry Festival make that connection tangible. Our endorsement signals a shared commitment to building Jamaica through what we produce.”

In seeking to build the momentum, the Kingston Curry Festival activation also serves as a lead-up to the campaign’s larger public showcase — the Buy Jamaican, Build Jamaica Road Show scheduled for March 20 at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre.

The road show will feature a full-scale display of Jamaican brands across multiple sectors, including food and beverages, chemicals, aromatherapy, fashion, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, bedding and mattresses, and building and construction materials. With booth displays, product sampling, prizes, giveaways, and direct engagement with manufacturers, the event will demonstrate the breadth and quality of Jamaican production beyond the supermarket shelf to widespread consumers. 

The endorsement of the Kingston Curry Festival marks the first in a series of public partnerships under the relaunched Buy Jamaican campaign, as the JMEA intensifies efforts to convert national pride into measurable support for local industry.