The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, through its 20 missions, delivered tangible benefits for Jamaica with more than $4.5 billion secured in support of national development.
Focus was also placed on deepening international relations, improving trade relations, and protecting the interests of Jamaicans overseas.
Donations and Grant Aid
• Jamaica received fertiliser from the Kingdom of Morocco, totalling 24,000 bags (1, 200 tons), valued at more than US$725,000; high-end tablets from the Republic of South Korea valued at more than US$600,000, to benefit of 4,103 needy students across the island; and scanners from Mexico, to assist with digital archiving.
• The People’s Republic of China donated office equipment and port security scanners valued at more than US$18 million, alongside medical supplies and equipment.
• Funding of more than US$1.6 million was provided to retrofit the Mandeville Comprehensive Health Centre by the United Kingdom (UK).
• More than 300 persons benefitted from training opportunities sponsored by China, through online programmes.
• Other training programmes were made available by India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Dominican Republic, Japan and Morocco and Cuba.
• Significant donations were made to the health and education sectors in particular, by the diaspora, facilitated by Jamaica’s diplomatic and consular missions.
Diplomatic Ties Strengthened
• Entry into diplomatic relations was formalised with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Principality of Liechtenstein, bringing to 174 the number of nations with which Jamaica has formal diplomatic relations.
Agreements Signed
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Political Consultations was signed with Greece during the first ever visit of a Greek Foreign Minister in February.
• A Violence Prevention Partnership Agreement valued at more than €15 million was signed with the UK.
• Agreements were signed with Mexico to strengthen trade, investment and coop- eration; Portugal on political consultations; the Republic of Korea on cooperation for grant aid; Barbados on deepening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, the medical cannabis industry, education, culture, and sports; and the Dominican Republic through the Institute of Higher Education in Diplomatic and Consular Training (INESDyC).
Regional Activities
Jamaica assumed the Chairmanship of CARICOM’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) and hosted the COFCOR Ministerial meeting and the 11th