Through strategic engagements at the regional, hemispheric and multilateral levels, Jamaica harnessed bilateral assistance of $4.5 billion in 2023, towards national development.
Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure while delivering the the 2024/2025 Throne Speech in Gordon House on February 15.
Highlighting initiatives under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, he said the Government continued its robust diaspora engagement and strengthened ties with international partners.
He said that Jamaica was elected to seven prestigious international bodies.
These include the Executive Committee of the United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organization, the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee and the International Maritime Organization Council.
In addition, Jamaica assumed the one-year Chairmanship of the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations, successfully convening the 26th Meeting and the Caribbean/United Kingdom (UK) Dialogue in Kingston in May 2023, in addition to special and informal meetings of the body.
“Jamaica played a lead role in the CARICOM response to the situation in Haiti, hosting the first meeting of Haitian stakeholders over three days, facilitated by the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group, and effectively launching the Group’s engagement, which has continued,” the Governor-General noted.
He told the House that in June 2024, the Government will host the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, which will be the first fully in-person staging since the pandemic.
Source: JIS
