By Donique Weston
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Jamaica is being touted as a prime destination for high-value agricultural investments.
Minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, Floyd Green, highlighted that the country is at a pivotal stage in its transformation, pointing out that the ministry’s key objectives are to drive investment, expand trade, and strengthen food security.
“To achieve this objective, the nation must collaborate with its international partners,” he told members of the Diplomatic Corps March 12. Jamaica, having seen a declining debt-to-GDP ratio and myriad other positive economic outcomes in recent years, is well positioned to take advantage of global opportunities.
Minister Green said while Jamaica currently benefits from several trade arrangements with its regional partners, the government wants to expand the global footprint in trade and investment.
“What we want to see from my ministry’s perspective [is] how we can leverage these arrangements to do much more. As such, we want to work with you (the diplomatic corps) to drive trade expansion, to reduce market barriers and to facilitate direct connections with importers and distributors so that we can expand our exports,” the minister outlined. There are significant investment opportunities and win-win proposals for Jamaica and its partners.
“Now is the time for high-value agricultural investment, right here in Jamaica. Things that we produce in Jamaica are sought after all over the world. As such, we do believe there are significant opportunities now in agro-processing,” minister Green said, emphasising that one area now ripe for investments is orchard crop farming.
“We do have land available for investment in orchard crops. In fact, we’ve developed our first ever mango orchard, or mango agro park, where we invite private-sector investors to come in and establish 50-acre blocks of mango farms. That is going well. In fact, we’ve already established about 200 acres. We want to establish another 300 acres in this financial year,” the minister outlined, opportunities in livestock farming and the dairy industry, noting that Jamaica is looking to leverage partnerships in this area.
“We want to facilitate greater bilateral discussions between you and your home countries with Jamaica’s agricultural sector around investment… around connecting investors with local projects that can accelerate economic growth,” he told the diplomats.
Minister Green pointed out that Jamaica’s collaboration with its international partners has been instrumental in advancing the nation’s economic agenda.
Diplomatic Week 2025 was held under the theme ‘Building Sustainable Partnerships for Sustainable Development’.
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