Industrial hemp a major focus for Build Expo 2018
Published:Friday | April 27, 2018 | 12:00 AMJanet Silvera/ Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The rapidly growing popularity of industrial hemp and its massive economic potential will be one of the main areas of focus at the second staging of Build Expo and Conference 2018.
Slated for the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St James, from June 8-11, the conference also comes against the backdrop of legislation that was introduced from the United States Senate floor three weeks ago by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell which would see hemp recognised as an agricultural commodity and removed from the federal list of controlled substances.
Known as the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, if successfully passed, it will have major implications for both the US and international agricultural sectors, including Jamaica.
Speaking at the launch of the expo last Wednesday at the H&L Rapid True Value lounge in Montego Bay, chairman and founder of Build Expo, Dwight Crawford, while gushing profusely over the hemp phenomenon and its potential for agriculture and by extension, the Jamaican economy, said other areas of focus will include the role of architecture in building national identity and driving revenue through tourism and foreign direct investments.
“Another critical area will be the contribution of environment protection policies and sound environmental management to the safeguarding of investments and bottom line,” he further added.
“We want to demonstrate to Jamaicans and people in the wider Caribbean region that attractive, functional and affordable housing solutions are nearer at hand, than most would think.”
Crawford further noted: “More importantly we are committed to making the argument that nation-building and wealth creation have their foundations rooted in building development activities; that there are dramatic and fundamental differences between the spend of earnings on consumer goods and the spend on real property. Beauty, fashion and entertainment burn money; building and development are storehouses of money that appreciate and build wealth.”
Crawford said the expo will also feature the awarding of a 887 square foot geodesic house (often called a dome house) to a lucky winner, which is an advancement over last year’s giveaway which was a tinier 200 square foot unit.
He said geodesic houses are cost-effective and have positive implications for the tourism industry, and will be “a subject for exploration throughout the four days”.
Crawford further added that the Canadian High Commission in Jamaica has also endorsed this year’s event and as a consequence, has given full-fledged “active and proactive” support.
“The Trade Commission within the Canadian High Commission has sourced and secured contributions in the form of Canadian companies’ involvement as exhibitors and contributors as speakers and presenters,” he noted.
“At a little under two months out from the event, we have surprisingly exceeded 140 booth exhibit spaces, with many more strong prospects to settle,” he further added.