"Nowhere else in the world is there a seamless connection of air and sea, and Jamaica offers that," Henry said during a luncheon meeting with the delegation at his ministry last week.

Henry noted that as a result of the discussions Jamaica was looking for local partnerships.

"We are looking for partnerships between the public and private sectors, with the government facilitating the expansion and development of these programmes," Henry said.

Leader of the Singaporean delegation, Dr Aloysius Tay, suggested that Vernamfield in Clarendon offered huge potential for a multi-modal transportation and logistics hub, as well as tourism spin-off.

"Vernamfield is not too far away from Kingston, and Milk River Bath is not too far away. There are so many things that are advantageous to Vernamfield that can be used. Trans-shipment is something that Singapore has been relying on, and it is very possible that we can grow Jamaica through Vernamfield," Tay suggested.

He said that there are also great possibilities for a Jamaican airline that goes beyond the region, and into the Far East.

"What excites me is that I can get from the Far East to Kingston, Jamaica, within 24 hours. That really could enhance tourism for Jamaica," Tay said.

Benefits from relationship

"We have been working hard to ensure that all of us enjoy the fruits of what is being done, both in Jamaica and Singapore, for companies to benefit from the relationship. We, at the trade office in Singapore, will ensure that we do our best to promote brand Jamaica, not only in the Caribbean, but in the Far East, as well," he promised.

Tay has been Jamaica's trade consul in Singapore since January. It is Jamaica's first trade office in South East Asia.

The delegation was in Jamaica for high level discussions with various government agencies and a number of private sector interests, and is the result of a similar visit to Singapore by a Jamaican delegation led by Henry, in May.

Since the visit of the Jamaican delegation to Singapore in May, a Jamaican trade office has been established in Singapore, and discussions have begun on the extension of the Singaporean-based Air Transport Training College's aviation maintenance training curriculum, as well as; the launch of the Jamaica Ship Registry in Singapore and re-opening of negotiations on a bilateral Open Skies Air Services Agreement between both countries.

- Jamaica Information Service