TotalEnergies Marketing Lauded for Contribution to Economy

French investments in Jamaica are reflected in a number of critical areas in the economy, says Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith. 

Speaking at TotalEnergies Marketing Jamaica’s 20th Anniversary Gala, held at the AC Mariott Hotel in New Kingston, on September 5, the Minister said the establishment of TotalEnergies (headquartered in France) in Jamaica under the Total brand 20 years ago, represented a substantial investment in the diversification of Jamaica’s energy supply.  

“Twenty years in the life of any enterprise is a significant achievement, and in the case of TotalEnergies Marketing, it represents two decades of commitment, resilience and contribution to Jamaica’s energy landscape and, more broadly, our economy,” Minister Johnson Smith told the audience. 

She underscored that the energy sector is “absolutely critical” to the  “unprecedented growth and stability of our economy”, and Jamaica affirms and celebrates just how important TotalEnergies is to the nation. 

“As Jamaica continues its path of sustainable development, including the path towards energy security, TotalEnergies has emerged as a leading player, introducing new and improved cleaner technology. We are pleased that this not only supports Jamaica’s national development goals but Jamaica’s climate adaptation and mitigation objectives,” Senator Johnson Smith said. 

The Minister noted that the company has demonstrated its commitment to the attainment of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7, which speaks to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. 

She highlighted that through its operations, TotalEnergies Limited has established Jamaica as the new lubricants hub of CARICOM, while contributing in part to “our increasing efforts” to build stronger relations between CARICOM and the French Overseas Territories, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe.   

Expressing appreciation for the involvement of the company in supporting corporate social responsibility projects such as International Beach Clean-up Day, Read Across Jamaica Day, Road Safety Initiatives and Tree Planting Projects, the Minister called for deeper partnership with the company. 

“I encourage you to not only continue in these initiatives but to also partner with local educational institutions and in the provision of internship and training opportunities, to aid in building our number of skilled professionals in the renewable energy sector. This would be a tangible contribution to Jamaica’s human capital development and would foster even greater local participation in the energy industry, consistent with the tenets of our Jamaica-France bilateral relationship,” she said.