Victoria Mutual supports “Buy Jamaican – Brand We Love” Campaign in Florida

September 1, 2009

The Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) takes pride in carrying out its corporate social responsibility as good corporate citizen, and has remained committed to helping build the Jamaican society through its own initiatives and by partnering with organizations that seek to enhance the welfare of the Jamaican people. It is in this regard that VMBS is pleased to support the 4th Annual Jamaican Business Exposition and the celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the Jamaica USA Chamber of Commerce and the “Brand Jamaica” Campaign in Florida.

The Jamaican Business Exposition will be held at the Sunset Lakes Community Center, 2801 SW 186th Avenue, Miramar, FL; on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4, 2009, and is being held under the auspices of the Hon. Sandra Grant Griffiths, Jamaica’s Consul General. The two-day Business Exposition is also partnered by Jamaica Trade & Invest (JTI); Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA); Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) and the Jamaican Business Development Center (JBDC). Of note, The Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade will also be represented in the Jamaican Delegation.

Over the two days, notable Jamaican Companies in the USA and an in-bound delegation from Jamaica will display products and services indicative of their respective businesses. These trade partners will also participate in a “We Mean Business” Trade and Investment Breakfast on September 3rd, to discuss opportunities and explain the coordinated initiatives between these organizations. According to Marie Gill, President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, “the Jamaican Business Expo has gained significant momentum as one of the primary ways to promote the “Brand Jamaica” movement overseas”. Gill also explained that the Expo will be a one-stop opportunity to meet business and resource agencies from Jamaica, find new business partners, learn about new products that are being produced in Jamaica and for which overseas representatives are being sought, and get a handle on how to identify secure potentially profitable investments on the island.

A special feature will be the Jamaican Milestone Awards to be presented to six Jamaican Companies and individuals, for outstanding achievements and contributions in the Diaspora, at the Annual Recognition & Installation Luncheon on September 4th, at which Hon. Dr. Baugh is the Luncheon Keynote Speaker. The Categories, inclusive of the honorees are: Health Care, Ms Pauline Grant, President & CEO, North Broward Hospital District; International Trade, David Jameison, CARICOM Freight Consolidation; Hospitality, Marcia McGhie, Marcia's Café; Information Technology, Jason Cohen, Defensive Data; Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Michael and Jackie Shaw, Sunshine Theatre Company and Engineer & Construction, Michael Heron, Miltrani Development Co.

According to Suzette Rochester, Manager, VMBS Florida Representative Office, “ Victoria Mutual’s participation and association with this Exposition is timely as our 130-year old financial institution, has recently opened its Florida Representative Office in the County Square Shopping Center in Miami Gardens. Its mandate is to offer financial services to over 400,000 Jamaicans residing in Florida and the rest of the North American region. This move will seek to maintain our linkage in the Jamaican community in South Florida by offering competitive financial services through the Victoria Mutual Group of Companies, whilst at the same time afford us the opportunity to foster greater relations with the Jamaican Diaspora and encourage Jamaicans to support ‘Brand Jamaica’".

With a Net Surplus of J$743.8 million as of December 2008, The Victoria Mutual Group encompasses a network of financial and other services through its member companies, The Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Limited (VMWM), Victoria Mutual Insurance Company Limited (VMIC), Victoria Mutual Property Services Limited (VMPS), and Victoria Mutual Money Transfer Services (VMTS). This group of companies provides a suite of products and services that include savings and deposits, residential and commercial mortgages; wealth management and investment services, including bond trading, stock broking, money market placements and advisory services, general insurance; property services, including real estate brokerage, valuations and property management and money transfer services.