The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is pleased to announce that Jamaica will host the 11th UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum and the Inaugural Jamaica-UK Strategic Dialogue on May 18 and 19, respectively, in Kingston.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith said that, “Jamaica is honoured to host these important meetings that will bring together ministerial and senior government officials from the Caribbean and the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss matters of mutual importance.”
Speaking about the significance of the meetings, Johnson Smith said, “Given our collective drive for economic recovery, as well as the state of global affairs, we consider these discussions with one of our key partners to be timely and important for the Caribbean.” She also said that in circumstances where these meetings would occasion the first official visit of a UK Foreign Secretary in almost two decades, she was particularly looking forward to welcoming the Right Honourable James Cleverly, with whom she will co-chair the Forum.
At the bilateral level, Johnson Smith said, “The type of engagement anticipated for the Jamaica-UK Strategic Dialogue is historic and is a testament to our strong and enduring partnership. My team and I at the Ministry are working closely with our partners to ensure the success of these engagements.”
UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “The UK is committed to strengthening our ties with Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. The UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum and the UK-Jamaica Strategic Dialogue are opportunities to celebrate our close bonds of friendship and family. I am also looking forward to renewing and enhancing our ties for the years ahead as we work to strengthen our shared values of freedom, democracy and concern for the state of our planet”
This will be the first in-person meeting of the UK-Caribbean Forum since 2016. The discussions at both the UK-Caribbean Forum and the Jamaica-UK Dialogue will cover a range of topics, including trade and investment, security, climate change and education.
