Diaspora Conference to Highlight National Imperatives

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference is expected to facilitate constructive dialogue on national imperatives.

Speaking at the opening of the plenary sessions at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on Monday, July 24, Senator Johnson Smith said it is anticipated that the four-day event will yield several “measurable outcomes” for the participants “as we mainstream Diaspora interests across Government.”

She noted that the topics for discussion are structured around the fundamental principle of partnership.

This, she said, involving the Government, Diaspora members and expert stakeholders, “centred to ensure that we have holistic discussions that can result in proper and effective solutions.”

Senator Johnson Smith said event will create awareness of “new and exciting” investment opportunities in Jamaica’s new and emerging industries.

“I want to encourage you to, not only embrace them for your own personal wealth creation…but if that’s not your interest at this time, still listen and learn, as you might wish to share them with friends and colleagues who are,” she urged.

The Minister also expressed confidence that young leaders in Jamaica and the Diaspora would work to expand engagements with second, third and fourth generations.

“We have been speaking about that for a while. We want to hear from the young people about strategies that they think will work as well as their views on successful projects in mentoring and entrepreneurial activities,” she said.

Senator Johnson Smith expressed gratitude for the inputs of all stakeholders in the staging of the conference adding that “we look forward to continuing this collaborative partnership to build our nation; we all know that united, together, we can.”

The biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference is being held from July 23 to 26 under the theme: ‘Partnering for Growth’.