Official South Florida Launch of the Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference – March 28th; Guest speaker: Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
SOUTH FLORIDA – Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has announced the official launch in South Florida of the Fifth Biennial Jamaica-Diaspora Conference 2013. The launch will take place under the aegis of the Consulate General of Jamaica, Miami, on Thursday, March 28, 2013, commencing at 5:00 p.m., at the Sheraton Suites Hotel in Plantation.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Arnaldo Brown, MP, will represent the Government of Jamaica, as he unveils plans for the upcoming four-day Conference, slated for June 16-19, 2013, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Montego Bay, Jamaica. The deliberations of the Conference will reflect the theme: “Nation on a Mission: Jamaica-Diaspora Partnership for Development”.
Members of the media and of the Jamaican Community are all invited to participate in the event. The Consul General, Sandra Grant Griffiths, in encouraging the broadest possible participation, has pointed to the timeliness of the Jamaica-Diaspora Conference, when considerable attention is being given in the USA, and globally to the examination of the process and results of targetted engagement between Diaspora communities and homeland countries.
According to the Consul General, “Jamaica, through the agency of the Foreign Ministry and her overseas diplomatic and consular missions has been at the forefront, especially since 2004, and certainly in the Northern Hemisphere, in the effort to formalize the mechanisms for effective engagement with her nationals overseas around strong bonds of heritage”.
This year’s Conference places direct focus on trade and investment, with the aim of pointing Diaspora investors to the present investment opportunities and avenues. The agenda, which will be outlined by the State Minister at the launch, will also emphasize topical issues germane to the interests of the Diaspora in their host countries. These include current immigration policies and their impact on the Diaspora, the US Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act (FATCA) and the Air Passenger Duty (APD). Importantly, the Jamaica Diaspora and Development Policy will be unveiled at the Conference.
This year’s re-engineered conference will include a Diaspora MarketPlace showcasing a range of major investment opportunities on the island. It will also offer express services and information from nine key public sector agencies. In addition, there will be presentations by a range of local and overseas officials and experts, and opportunities for dialogue and networking in the focus areas of trade and investment, health and education. The conference also features business tours, special hospitality events, and a Diaspora Day of Service on June 20th.
Support for next Thursday’s forum is being given by the Diaspora Advisory Board Representative and Advisory Council USA-South. Additionally, live streaming will be provided by Irie Times Jamaica (www.irietimesjamaica.com).
Attendees to the Launch will also include a wide cross-section of representatives from the business community, community groups, public service officials, alumni associations, faith-based community leaders as well as partners and sponsors, in an effort to rally community interests and delegate support from the Diaspora community in the Southern USA region.
The South Florida Launch event is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade in association with several of Jamaica’s international corporate entities and agencies that have partnered as 2013 Conference sponsors. They include Grace Foods USA/Grace Kennedy Remittance Services-Western Union, Jamaica National Building Society (JN)/ JN Money Services, the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), J. Wray and Nephew Limited, and, and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). The Conference is endorsed by JAMPRO and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Similar Diaspora launch events are scheduled for Toronto and New York, with the first in the series recently staged in London on March 18th.
The Jamaica Diaspora Conference, in June, will bring together Jamaicans at home and abroad in an ongoing effort to strengthen and sustain existing and emerging linkages, and foster collaborations to advance the socio-economic development programme of their homeland.
For further information, interested persons may contact the Consulate General of Jamaica at [email protected] or Diaspora Board Representative for the Southern USA, Dr. Susan Lycett- Davis at [email protected]
