Blue Mountain Coffee Day a Symbol of Friendship Between Jamaica and Japan – Minister Johnson Smith

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee (JBMC) Day not only recognises one of the world’s finest coffees but also highlights a unique trade and development partnership between Jamaica and Japan.

“This enduring partnership is a testament to the power of shared passions and international friendship nurtured by several coffee stakeholders in both countries,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, in statement to mark the day on Tuesday (January 9).

This year is the sixth anniversary of JBMCD, which was first observed in 2019 following proclamation by the Governor-General.

The day was initiated by the Association of Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee (AJIJC) and has been endorsed by the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, January 9 marks the day in 1967 when Japan first received the largest shipment of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, and the beginning of Japan importing more than 70 per cent of Jamaica’s coffee production.

Minister Johnson Smith said that the Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo has been playing a pivotal role in promoting Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, collaborating in the staging of the 2023 Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ) World Specialty Coffee Conference and Exhibition.

She noted that the stakeholders from Mavis Bank Coffee Factory (MBCF) Limited who were in Japan for the event partnered with the Embassy to host a dinner celebrating Japan’s 70-year status as the primary importer of Jamaican coffee.

“This event also saw the MBCF honouring 11 Japanese importers, including members of the AJIJC, symbolising the deep-rooted connection between the two nations forged by the coffee trade. The Embassy’s efforts were recognised with a plaque from the MBCF, underscoring its vital role in nurturing this important trade relationship,” she pointed out.

On January 23, the Jamaican Embassy, in collaboration with AJIJC and Connect Worldwide Japan (representative of the Jamaica Tourist Board in Japan), will host a seminar and cocktail party for trade and lifestyle VIP Media.

The Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami is set to host the inaugural Jamaica Brew Festival on January 20, to celebrate Jamaican arts, culture and coffee, and will feature book readings and signings by Jamaican authors and poets, screenings of short films by Jamaican filmmakers, and a showcase of Jamaica’s renowned coffee.