Foreign Ministry Meets with Stakeholders Ahead of COTED Meeting

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Tuesday, June 25, held talks with key public and private sector representatives on matters of regional integration and the trade agenda.

The meeting, held at the Ministry’s Dominica Drive headquarters, was requested by Portfolio Minister, Hon. A. J. Nicholson, to get the input from stakeholders in preparation for the special session of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in September.

COTED has primary responsibility for executing the trade and development agenda of CARICOM and the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The meeting looked at the strategic direction of the Council; participation of the private sector on trade delegations; provided an update on the Draft Foreign Trade Policy; and gave a report on the Minister’s official visit to Brazil from June 10 to 14.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, updated the group on the outcomes of the recently held 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from June 16 to 19.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador, Paul Robotham , who read a statement from Minister Nicholson, who was absent due to illness, said that Jamaica’s private sector must be prepared to be part of the leadership of the trade agenda in the country’s growth programme.

He said the private sector, which is the engine of growth, “holds the handle on the push for growth, which is that enduring element of sustainable development in the economy with trade as the centre piece.”

“This has certainly proven to be so within the parameters of today’s global economic framework,” he added.

Contact: E. Hartman Reckord