MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRAD
2 Port Royal Street, Kington
MEDIA RELEASE
June 4, 2026
Minister Terrelonge Welcomes Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Participation in the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Alando Terrelonge, has welcomed the participation of Jamaican track and field icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, describing her involvement as a significant addition to ongoing efforts to position Jamaica’s cultural and creative assets as drivers of economic growth and national development.
Fraser-Pryce will be among the featured speakers on Day Three of the Conference during the highly anticipated session on ‘Leveraging the Creative Economy to Build Stronger Cultural Industries’. The session will examine how Jamaica can better harness its cultural, sporting and creative capital to drive investment, support entrepreneurship and strengthen economic resilience. She will join a panel of leaders from across the creative and cultural sectors, including Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange; film producer Storm Saulter; singer and songwriter Naomi Cowan; actress Kimberley Patterson; and Downsound Entertainment CEO and Reggae Sumfest promoter, Joe Bogdanovich. The discussion will focus on practical opportunities to strengthen Jamaica’s cultural industries, expand the global reach of Brand Jamaica and create stronger pathways for creatives, athletes and entrepreneurs to benefit from the country’s international influence.
“Jamaica’s culture, music, sport, film, fashion and creative talent give us a competitive advantage that few countries of our size can claim. Our responsibility is to convert that global influence into enterprise, investment and sustainable economic opportunities for our people. The Diaspora has a central role to play in that effort. We are inviting Jamaicans overseas and international partners to invest in the opportunities within Brand Jamaica and help build the industries, platforms and partnerships that can carry Jamaica’s creative economy further”, Terrelonge said.
The Minister further noted that the global creative economy is now valued at trillions of dollars annually and represents one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide. He further emphasised that the Government of Jamaica continues to advance policies aimed at strengthening the country’s creative industries ecosystem, recognising the sector’s growing importance to economic diversification, job creation, youth empowerment, innovation and cultural preservation.
He also expressed appreciation to GraceKennedy, a Legacy Partner of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, for its longstanding commitment to Jamaica’s development and continued support of Diaspora engagement initiatives. “Their support in bringing Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce into this conversation adds one of Jamaica’s most influential global voices to a session focused on the future of the country’s cultural and creative economy”, he said.
The Conference will serve as an incubator for partnership, investment and ideas, bringing together Jamaicans across the Diaspora and friends of Jamaica to help shape initiatives that support national development.
