KINGSTON, Jamaica – Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, has been holding bilateral talks in Seoul, South Korea since the start of the week in a bid to foster increased economic and technical cooperation between Jamaica and the world’s tenth largest economy.

Minister Johnson Smith, along with other Ministers from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), are participating in the 13th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership, hosted by the Government of Korea.

This year’s Forum will explore new cooperation projects to address the challenges faced by Caribbean nations and foster sustainable and inclusive growth. The impending projects will focus on climate resilience, energy and food security, as well as trade and commerce.

Since 2011, this annual High-Level Forum, organised by the Republic of Korea, has played an integral role in advancing relations between Korea and the Caribbean region, providing a platform for strategic discussions on issues such as climate change, food security, education, health, peace and security. Minister Johnson Smith’s participation in the Forum falls within her year-long chairmanship of the Caricom Council for Foreign and Community Relations.

In underscoring the value to Jamaica and its Caricom partners of this annual engagement with Korea, Minister Johnson Smith highlighted that “as the first country to make the inspiring transition from being a development aid recipient to becoming an aid donor, Korea holds a unique understanding of the challenges faced by developing countries such as those in Caricom. Korea’s vision for sustainable development, as showcased in its bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan, is also closely aligned with that of the region”.

As part of her agenda at the 13th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership, the Minister continued discussions with her Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Park Jin, on a Framework Agreement for Grant Aid, that seeks to promote sustainable economic and social development in Jamaica. The two Ministers have since signed Agreed Minutes outlining the key areas for the early conclusion of negotiations on this pivotal agreement.

“We commend the Korean Government for its close collaboration with the Government of Jamaica in advancing the Framework Agreement for Grant Aid. Indeed, this Agreement demonstrates the firm commitment of the Korean Government to Jamaica’s development aspirations and support to the GOJ’s move towards sustainable and inclusive growth. We express sincere appreciation to the Government of Korea for cooperation underway in the areas of health, education, land registration, agriculture, digitisation and the national identification system as well as modernisation of Jamaican customs,” the Foreign Minister said.

“Jamaica deeply values its longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship with the Republic of Korea, which has flourished since the establishment of diplomatic relations nearly 61 years ago. We are delighted to pursue yet another opportunity to further strengthen our engagement, particularly in light of my constructive discussions with Minister PARK on the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly last month [September]”, continued Minister Johnson Smith.

To date, Korea’s funding support to Jamaica in the last 40 years has totalled over US$10 million, with more than US$2 million being donated as of April 2020.

Grant aid is a form of financial assistance extended to a developing country (recipient) without an obligation for repayment.