OTTAWA, Canada, CMC – Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has talked with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, according to a statement issued by the Canadian Government.
“The prime ministers underscored the launch of the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership and how it will help build on the already strong, longstanding relationship between Canada and CARICOM members,” the statement said, adding that Trudeau was accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Mary Ng.
Holness was part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders who attended the three-day first-ever Canada-CARICOM summit that ended here on Thursday, and the statement said that the deliberations between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the summit.
“The two leaders highlighted their collaboration on shared priorities, such as advancing climate resilience and sustainable ocean management, growing clean energy capacity, building inclusive and sustainable economies, defending the rules-based international order, and strengthening regional security and stability.”
The statement said Trudeau reiterated Canada’s commitment to working with CARICOM, the United Nations, and other international partners to re-establish peace and security in Haiti, including by coordinating international security assistance, advancing Haitian-led solutions, and bolstering the Haitian National Police’s capacity and resources.
Trudeau also thanked Jamaica for hosting Canadian training of the Haitian National Police.
“Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Holness looked forward to making progress on shared priorities and remaining in regular contact,” the statement added that Canada and Jamaica have shared “strong bilateral relations” since Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.
“Beyond a deep friendship, Canada and Jamaica benefit from a rich and diverse bilateral relationship, founded on our shared democratic heritage, common values, and strong people-to-people ties, including a large and vibrant Canadian-Jamaican Diaspora community of over 300,000 people,” the statement said.
It said the strength of Canada and Jamaica’s ties is also manifested in the education and tourism sectors and that many Jamaicans come to Canada every year as students. At the same time, thousands of Canadians visit Jamaica annually, representing Jamaica’s second-largest source of foreign tourists.
The statement said the Canadian-Jamaican bilateral relationship also encompasses trade and investment, security and defense, and development cooperation.
Additionally, Canadian farms employ about 10,000 Jamaicans annually as part of Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme.
“Canada and Jamaica are mostly like-minded partners on the international stage, as both are firmly committed to advancing progressive and democratic values and a rules-based international order.
“Our countries work together to co-chair the Group of Friends of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Financing at the United Nations, an innovative platform to discuss and promote ideas to finance the implementation of the SDGs.”
Canada said Jamaica is its fourth largest merchandise trading partner within CARICOM and that last year, two-way merchandise trade was valued at CAN$217.3 million (One Canadian dollar=US$0.73 cents), with Canadian exports of CAN$156.2 million covering a wide range of goods, including meat products, pharmaceutical products, and electrical machinery and equipment.
The Canadian Government said imports from Jamaica were valued at CAN$61.1 million and consisted mainly of aluminum oxides, prepared foodstuffs, beverages, and spirits. Areas of trade collaboration include clean technologies and the energy sector.
The statement said due to the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CARIBCAN) – an economic and trade development assistance program for the Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories established by Canada in 1985 – and Canada’s other Tariff preference measures, 94 percent of all Caribbean exports to Canada enter duty-free.
Trudeau on Thursday concluded the historic Canada-CARICOM Summit in Ottawa, pledging to strengthen trade and investment with the region.
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