The Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC), has partnered with its agency, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), to host key industry stakeholders, including artisans and craft producers, at its Craft and Coffee event on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston.

The event aims to facilitate information exchange, networking, and increased visibility of the Jamaican craft industry. It will feature a craft product quality showcase and an awards ceremony. Craftspersons can register to attend this hybrid event at craftandcoffee.miic.gov.jm.

“The ministry is proudly putting the highlight on talented, and dedicated craft producers and artisans across the island,” shared Latoya Richards Franklin, chief technical director for the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce.

“This event serves to advance one of the ministry’s objectives of the National Craft Policy, which is to expand the merchandising, retailing, exporting and overall visibility of authentic Jamaican craft.”

The National Craft Policy of Jamaica mandates that there should be focus on visual art and souvenir products through the development of regular public interventions in the form of competitions, events and exhibitions to identify and promote authentic Jamaican craft, according to specific criteria, to reward competitiveness and innovation among producers.

The competition has five categories from which 220 artisans operating in Jamaica were invited to submit products for inclusion in the Product Quality Showcase. They are: ‘Best Souvenir Product’, ‘Best Interior Product’, ‘Best Jewellery Product’, ‘Best Fashion and Textile Product’, and ‘Best Corporate Gift’.

“We are excited to recognise over 20 shortlisted products from the Craft Product Quality Awards Competition, that will be included in the showcase, reflecting creativity, innovation, market readiness and export competitiveness,” Franklin Richards said.

“At the end of the showcase we will award the best in each of the categories, which will help to empower and inspire other craftspersons to turn imagination into unique, handcrafted creations that are economically viable.”

The artisans and craft producers will also have access to industry experts through a panel discussion on “Craft and Global Competitiveness—Issues and Opportunities”, in addition to business advisory services through information exhibitor stations including government agencies such as the JBDC and the HEART/ NSTA Trust.