thebahamasweekly.com - Invest Grand Bahama Unit: Getting the Word Out

From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Grand Bahama
Invest Grand Bahama Unit: Getting the Word Out
By GBPA
Aug 27, 2014 - 6:51:43 PM

Derek Newbold, GBPA Business Development Manager and the Invest Grand Bahama Unit recently participated at the 21st SourceDirect, and ASD Trade Shows and Conferences Las Vegas, Nevada. Pictured are Derek Newbold and his team sharing the benefits of Freeport, with conference attendees.

Freeport, Grand Bahama – “As the global trade market advances, Freeport’s value as a Free Trade Zone with major advantages within the shipping, trade and logistics sectors continues to gain international recognition.

Business Development Manager for The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), Derek Newbold noted that, GBPA’s recent participation at the 21st SourceDirect, and ASD Trade Shows and Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada, served to reiterate Freeport’s strengths as a major linchpin for value-addition, assembly and distribution between emerging production and consumer markets.

“Response and participation during the SourceDirect Trade Show event was phenomenal. Under our Invest Grand Bahama promotional unit, we attracted an unprecedented amount of interest from scores of manufacturers based in India, China and Taiwan, hoping to establish near-shore distribution facilities for key consumer markets in the US and Canada,” said Newbold.

He added that the three-day event provided a captive audience of over 45,000 attendees and more than 2,600 exhibitors from countries like Bangladesh, China, India, Korea, Republic of Mexico and other known destinations.

“We encouraged hundreds of prospects to take a closer look at Freeport, its benefits and the strategic advantages available to manufacturers utilizing Freeport as a distribution platform for the region and or capitalizing on value addition and assembly opportunities.” Newbold advised.

GBPA’s Invest Grand Bahama unit took the opportunity to meet with hundreds of investment prospects, hoping to establish near-shore distribution facilities for key consumer markets in the Caribbean, US and Canada, during the recent SourceDirect, & ASD Trade Shows and Conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada.

GPBA President, Ian Rolle expressed that GBPA continues to dedicate the resources and research efforts essential to attracting viable investments to Freeport.

“The environment is ripe with opportunity,” stated Rolle. “Freeport provides the perfect mix of superior infrastructure, economic concessions, and more importantly, the advantage of conducting business from a free trade zone strategically positioned a mere 60 miles East of North America,” Rolle continued. “We know that we have an enviable story to tell and as a result of our efforts over the past few years, certain jurisdictions are now taking note of Grand Bahama.”

Newbold advises that GBPA’s promotional efforts could take the Invest Grand Bahama unit to India for a major exhibition later this year.

“During the tradeshow, we met and connected with the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) of India and a number of Indian merchants. As a result of our discussions, the EPCH has invited Invest Grand Bahama to participate in its upcoming IHGF Delhi Fair later this year,” explained Newbold.

Mr. Newbold was also asked to be a featured speaker at the conference, educating Indian Merchants/Investors on how to conduct business in Grand Bahama, and more specifically, the Free Trade Zone of the Bahamas.