Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J Nicholson, says Jamaica highly values its long-standing and close relations with Cuba, which he said, are rooted in strong historical and cultural ties. He was speaking at a reception to mark the 57th Anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution (National Day) held on January 21 at the...

World Trade Organization (WTO), Director General, Ambassador Roberto de Azevêdo, says Jamaica is well placed to develop the services sector which, he notes, is an area that can provide sustained economic growth. Trade in services remains an important economic activity for Jamaica and is a priority for the country in the Doha Round negotiations. The services industry in Jamaica continues...

Jamaica’s merchandise trade deficit fell by 13.4 per cent to US$2.9 billion for January to September 2015, when compared to the US$3.3 billion recorded over the similar period in 2014. Co-Chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), Richard Byles, credited the improvement to the reduction in food imports and lower oil prices. He said the decrease in food import...

A revision of the national foreign trade policy with a view to enhancing the country’s performance in the export of goods and services has been undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. “This is required if we are to achieve sustained economic growth, which has eluded us for many years. This is also necessary if we are...

Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ambassador Roberto de Azevêdo, says the decision to scrap subsidies for agricultural exports is a significant development, which will improve the global trading environment. He was speaking at a public lecture held on Monday (January 18), at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus. At the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference held...

Head of Delegation for the European Union (EU) in Jamaica, Paola Amadei, says while her four-year stint as Ambassador is coming to an end, she will leave knowing her organization has made an indelible mark in almost every community in Jamaica. Speaking at the opening of the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) classrooms and refurbished building at Barracks Road,...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator  the Hon. A. J. Nicholson, says the outcome of the recent Conference of the Parties (COP) 21, held in  Paris, France, was a "positive one for Jamaica, for Caricom and for Small Island Developing States, more generally." "We were pleased, in particular, to see recognition of the need to endeavour to keep...