Photo Caption: Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
MEDIA RELEASE
The Jamaican Government is actively advocating for key interests in agriculture and other trade related areas, at the 58th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Georgetown, Guyana, which began yesterday. The COTED is considering a diverse agenda dealing with implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Common External Tariff (CET), Rules of Origin, Standards and Competition, among others.
Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade and Head of Delegation, said the “the regional market holds tremendous potential for growth in Jamaican exports, so we are committed to using the COTED framework and supporting mechanisms, to secure opportunities for our private sector which in turn supports both national and regional growth agenda”.
“Before the delegation left Jamaica we had useful meetings with stakeholders to ensure that we had full information, were able to address matters of concern and clarify positions. This process has helped to ensure the effectiveness and alignment of our delegation”, she said.
At the 58th meeting of COTED, Jamaica will pay particular attention to matters affecting regional trade in sugar and cement, developments concerning condensed milk, the supply of frozen concentrated orange juice and refined petroleum products, among others. Jamaica will also participate in discussions regarding the work of the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) and the adoption of regional standards in relation to the labelling of pre-packaged food.
Jamaica’s delegation to COTED’s 58th Regular Meeting includes officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC). The Meeting ends on May 15.
COTED is the designated organ of the Caribbean Community tasked with managing and advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Its responsibilities include developing policies and programmes to boost sectoral production and support sustainable development across the region.
