22 Mar 2013
Jamaica's Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Hon. Arnaldo Brown, visited the UK this week to launch the 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference 2013 to the Jamaican Diaspora in the UK.
The week-long trip included three community meetings, with the first event taking place at the Jamaica High Commission in London on 18 March 2013 and the final meetings taking place in Manchester and Birmingham.
During the events, Minister Brown highlighted what attendees can expect at this year's conference including the issues scheduled to be addressed, such as immigration and Air Passenger Duty (APD), and the significance of the Diaspora's contribution to the achievement of Jamaica's Vision 2030.
"The discussion surrounding Jamaica's growth and investment strategies and its alignment to Vision 2030's long-term plan creates an ideal opportunity where policy makers and practitioners at the highest level are engaged with members of the Diaspora in explaining the various policies while getting important and direct feedback," commented Minister Brown during the presentation in London.
This year's Jamaica Diaspora Conference will take place from 16 - 19 June 2013 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Jamaica, under the theme, 'A Nation on a Mission: Jamaica-Diaspora Partnership for Development'. The event has become a global forum on the Diaspora event calendar and this year will see several changes to the format, including the newly introduced MarketPlace Exposition and a deeper focus on trade and investment opportunities.
The conference brings together Jamaicans from all over the world and at least 300 delegates are expected to attend this year from the UK, Canada and the USA. Registration is available at www.jamaicandiaspora.gov.jm. Early registration confirmed on or before 23rd May includes a daily rate of £40 and £80 for three-days at the Conference. Late registration fees after 23 May 2013 will cost £50 for one day and £100 for three-days of the Conference.
The conference is being planned in conjunction with the Jamaica Tourist Board and this year's main sponsors include GraceKennedy, the Jamaica National Building Society, the Victoria Mutual Group and J. Wray & Nephew Limited.
For further details on the Jamaica Diaspora Conference visit www.jamaicandiaspora.gov.jm. For further details on Jamaica, visit www.VisitJamaica.com.
[ENDS]
Notes to Editors:
Photo Caption 1 (from left to right): The Hon. Arnaldo Brown (Minister of State for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade) and Her Excellency Aloun Assamba (High Commissioner of Jamaica to the United Kingdom).
Photo Caption 2 (from left to right): Diedre Mills (Deputy High Commissioner of Jamaica to the United Kingdom), Celia Grandison-Markey (Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board Member for UK South), Mavis Victoria Stewart MBE (President of The Association of Jamaica (UK) Trust) and Denis St Bernard (Caribbean Enterprise Network UK).
Media Enquiries
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About the Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica's national tourism agency, based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
Jamaica was named "Favourite Worldwide Destination" by the readers of British Travel Awards' Check-In magazine at the publication's new Readers' Choice Awards 2012. Jamaica was also voted the 2010 World's Leading Beach Destination (Montego Bay) by the World Travel Awards.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodation in Jamaica visit the JTB website at www.visitjamaica.com, or call the JTB on 020 7225 9090.
