Jamaica announces plans to strengthen relations with Africa through trade, investment and tourism

READY: Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced plans to strengthen relations between Jamaica and Africa.

Speaking during a webinar to mark Africa Day, the Prime Minister said there are notable opportunities for trade and investment between Africa and the Caribbean region. He also noted tourism links and connectivity would be vital going forward.

Holness highlighted some of the new agreements signed connecting nations, including one between South Africa and Jamaica. He also announced an acceptance of direct flights from Nigeria to Kingston.

According to a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), other flight arrangements are being considered.

The Prime Minister said Jamaica is on its way to positioning itself as a focal point for investment arrangements between Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas.

“It is envisioned that this will create more powerful engagement, and exchange of a range of goods and services between the continent and its sixth region,” the Office of the Prime Minister added.

He also added it was essential for the African Diaspora of the Caribbean and the Americas to consider itself as the sixth region of the African Union.

It is essential for the African Diaspora of the Caribbean and the Americas to consider itself as the sixth region of the African Union.

The Jamaican government has also recently appointed its first ambassador for investment to Togo, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria.

Holness said the government has been pursuing various investment and trade routes which can support business opportunities.

“We are preparing to unleash new strategies for travel, trade, and investment, anchored in the will of our people to unite. There is the need for government policies and inter-governmental arrangements to facilitate contacts between our countries to foment even higher levels of trade and investment with economic returns to our people.

This will require us to define the goods and services for which we are globally competitive, and redirect our investment and trade arrangements to include Africa and its diaspora,” Holness said in the release.

Comments Form

3 Comments

  1. | Mohamed Wurie

    Welcome news, it will a natural development bringing the people together ❤. Blessings 🙌

    Reply

  2. | Kenneth Dixon

    This is very good to hear,
    I hope it is not just political talk, and practical efforts will be made to put these things in place
    We hope it is NOT just tourism and arts / music festivals, or agriculture.
    The measures must include Manufacturing, Finance, Engineering, Education and much more.

    Jamaica is my birth country, l currently live in the UK, but l feel vary strongly connected to my roots of the African / Alkiboland continent.
    I am currently heading up a large manufacturing project that we shall be starting in Ghana this year(2021).
    This is for the benefit of our people.
    So watch this space.
    I hope that we will be able to find some skilled professional Jamaicans that we can employ to work in the business in Ghana.

    K.Dixon

    Reply

  3. | Leroy Palmer

    I am truly happy about being able to trade with Africa, it is something that Ialways wanted see. Trading with people of my own kind.Also I have always wanted to know the land of my Ancestors, so direct flights between Jamaica and Nigeria, is welcomed news.

    Reply

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