The Second Dominican Republic-Jamaica Business Forum took place at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston in Kingston, Jamaica on 18 April 2024. Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy in the Ministry of Foreign Relations Dominican Republic Jose Julio Gomez and the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica in the Domiican Republic Juan Jose Melo traveled to Jamaica to participate. The event had the backing of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica Kamina Johnson Smith, the Dominican ambassador to Jamaica Angie Martinez and the president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), Metry Seaga.
Jamaica Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith said at the event that the total trade between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic has increased by 161% over the last 10 years. She explained that trade has been largely driven by exports from the Dominican Republic to Jamaica.
Senator Johnson Smith noted that the business forum is being held at a positive juncture in the Jamaica/Dominican Republic bilateral relations. “I want to encourage you to use the mechanisms put in place to strengthen the already excellent commercial ties that exist. The opportunities provided by this forum ensure that it stands as an excellent model for public-private-sector partnerships as both sides get to know each other better, promote sector-specific information, develop commercial and investment relationships and, of course, improve the environment generally for engagement between our respective private sectors,” she stated.
The Minister said the forum also serves to complement several private-sector-driven mechanisms and initiatives being instituted or recently put in place to forge greater economic ties between the countries.
These, she pointed out, include a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two country’s export agencies, JAMPRO and ProDominicana, to formalize trade and investment promotion and cooperation between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
An MOU was also concluded between the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the National Business Council of the DR (Conep) to promote trade and investment and commercial development.
Senator Johnson Smith also acknowledged the 2021 establishment of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic, and the Dominican Republic Chamber of Commerce in Jamaica, last year.
She stated that both entities will be critical in organizing, fostering and encouraging trade, economic and commercial ties between the countries’ respective private sectors.
Meanwhile, Senator Johnson Smith said in November 2023, she, along with the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Relations Roberto Álvarez launched a joint working group on the promotion of trade, investment, and productive value chains. “This body will provide the framework for bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, promotion and in the development of supply chains and productive value chains,” the Minister said.
The Minister also encouraged members of the private sector to use the Caricom/Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1998, to benefit from the preferential access provided under that facility to all Caricom countries, including Jamaica.
She further stated that the initiatives mentioned will provide various platforms for companies in both countries to build and strengthen the ties between the nations for mutual economic benefits.
Speaking during the forum, Metry Seaga of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) called exporting to the Dominican Republic “a golden opportunity” for Jamaican companies. “The potential for Jamaica to not just grow but to truly flourish is undeniable. From January to September 2023, our exports moved to US$1.56 billion, up from US$1.27 billion during the same period in 2022. This highlights a golden opportunity for us — our neighbor, the Dominican Republic, is a Caribbean powerhouse with a consumer base of 11.2 million and a GDP [gross domestic product] of US$113.6 billion in 2022,” Seaga said.
Jamaica recently signed a new bilateral aviation agreement with the DR and expects this to boost trade and tourism. The bilateral aviation agreement between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic has already produced increased cultural exchange in tourism, increased commercial trade between the two countries, and is creating new businesses, said Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, speaking at the forum in Kingston.
“I am very confident that we will witness the signing of a crucial Memorandum of Cooperation between the Airports Authority of Dominican Republic and Jamaica, which is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties,” he said.
“The MOC represents a collaborative venture aimed at facilitating exchanges, offering advisory support, and arranging visits from airports in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Both countries will share best practices concerning airport management and core operations to further develop the airports in both countries,” Vaz added.
The Minister said he fully endorses the collaboration, noting that the Government of Jamaica recognizes the crucial role aviation plays in the economy.
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The St Kitts Nevis Observer
22 April 2024