Mobilising Post-COVID Recovery Support Among Focus Areas for Foreign Ministry

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says in the 2023/24 fiscal year, mobilising support for post-pandemic recovery and enhancing opportunities for political, economic, and national development will continue to be prioritised. 

She was addressing a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee in Gordon House on Wednesday (March 1).  

The Government has allocated approximately $5.842 billion for the Ministry in the upcoming financial year.  

Senator Johnson Smith said that the sum “represents an overall increase of two per cent or $91 million over the current financial year after we account for the supplementary estimates that have also been provided”. 

“This amount also represents the gross budget, after appropriations in aid of $100 million, funded by projected earnings from the provision of consular services overseas,” she said. 

 While noting that enhancing diaspora and international relations will continue to be pursued, Senator Johnson Smith said the Ministry will also prioritise “improving our organisational capacity, programme management, and our service delivery”. 

“The further building out of our customer service apparatus is expected to complement and support our performance in meeting stakeholder needs across all our portfolio areas,” she pointed out.  

Other key initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year include advocating on behalf of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and continued focus on climate change and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).