Caption: Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade delivers opening remarks at a meeting of the Jamaica Trade Policy Advisory Group, JAMTRADE held at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, February 1.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, is encouraging more dynamic and innovative collaboration between private and public sector stakeholders to take advantage of emerging opportunities offered by the changing global trade environment.
The Minister was speaking at the Jamaica Trade Policy Advisory Group (JAMTRADE) Stakeholders Meeting, which is a joint effort of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), other Ministries and Agencies, the private sector, academia and civil society stakeholders, to provide technical advice and input in support of trade policy development and implementation.
Johnson Smith, who highlighted recent global economic shocks and unpredictable changes in the global trade environment, urged a positive approach: As we strive to address the new global challenges and seek to identify sustainable avenues and mechanisms through which to promote Jamaica’s interests, I challenge you, our stakeholders, to also explore the ways in which you and your companies can make a lasting contribution to Jamaica becoming a leading force in the transformation of global trade”.
She reiterated the role of the Government in facilitating trade through negotiation of agreements and creating policies, including the national Foreign Trade Policy and Foreign Trade Action Plan, also affirmed the critical role played by the private sector in guiding policy to ensure effectiveness in growing the business of trade and national development. The Minister said, “As part of those objectives, we aim to integrate and streamline the role that international trade must play in achieving positive and meaningful economic outcomes for the country and the wider society. Your input will be an indispensable part of this process, mindful of the importance of partnerships in pursuing a transformational trade policy agenda.”
On the practical side of discussions, sharing the example of CARICOM’s 25 x 2025 initiative to reduce the region’s import bill, Minister Johnson Smith encouraged companies to, “Take full advantage of the opportunities that are and will become available to supply produce to the region,” and noted that companies are already being facilitated to identify opportunities through JAMPRO and the MIIC.
The Minister also spoke of “untapped opportunities” pursuant to CARICOM agreements with Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and encouraged feedback regarding future approaches.
This was the first in-person meeting of key stakeholders following a hiatus due the COVID-19 Pandemic.
