The Bahamas' embassy in China is seeking to promote partnership opportunities between Chinese and Bahamian businesses, according to The Bahamas' Ambassador to the People's Republic of China Paul Andy Gomez.
"We have a gem of a country. The Bahamas is highly respected and we have to protect it for future generations," said Gomez.
"But we also have to find a way for culture to make some money. We have to work together," he added.
Earlier this month, Guardian Business reported that CEO of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers' Confederation (BCCEC) Edison Sumner and Gomez had a meeting to discuss opportunities for Bahamian businesses to enter into the Chinese market. Sumner said there are different levels of trade opportunities that exist between The Bahamas and China.
On Friday, Gomez met with prominent stakeholders in the cultural arena to discuss the potential of Bahamian arts and culture in Asia. At the meeting, Gomez laid out a road map for such a relationship.
"The Bahamas embassy's primary role in China is to maintain diplomatic relations of the highest level with The People's Republic of China ... The embassy is pursuing in a big way the promotion of business partnership opportunities between Chinese and Bahamian businesses," he said.
China is considered the largest developing country in the world with the second largest economy behind the United States.
"The Bahamas has some opportunities and we need to strategically balance our sovereignty for generations to come with economic development, particularly from that heavily populated part of the world," Gomez said.
However, some individuals at the meeting expressed their concerns regarding the marketing and promotion of Bahamian cultural products such as Junkanoo, copyright of photographs, drawings and paintings, the support of short films and documentaries, and the sale of items, jewelry and other crafts.
Other tourism executives, who attended the meeting, gave their input on the matter. Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) Dion Smith said a mandate of BAIC is needed to stimulate the growth of small and medium-sized businesses.
"There is a market worldwide for Bahamian handicraft," he said.
Deputy Director General of Tourism Ellison Thompson noted that China is an emerging, important market and pledged the Ministry's support in this vein.
Director of Culture Rowena Poitier-Sutherland said she is willing to share the various business plans on tap for further promotion of culture in, and outside of The Bahamas.

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