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Jamaica And Cayman Islands To Strengthen Trade Relations

KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 5, 2019 (CMC) – Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, says his administration is moving to improve trade relations with the Cayman Islands.

Holness made the comments while speaking to members of the Jamaican Diaspora, during a recent visit to the British Overseas territory.

During his visit, the Prime Minister held bilateral talks with the Premier of the Cayman Islands, Alden McLaughlin, and government officials, and explained that it is important to improve the economic and other ties with the territory.

“I would also want to say to you, that now it’s time for Jamaica to be reaching out and having trade deals with its neighbours. Stronger trade with Jamaica and Cayman is now quite possible and necessary,” he added.

He also gave the Jamaicans in Cayman Islands an update on talks he had held with the government of Cayman.

“In our bilateral talks, we have been discussing ways in which that can be achieved. Of course there is the issue of the visa requirement, but I don’t look at things as absolute obstacles. I think that there should be talks on this matter, as the Jamaican economy improves, as we are finding labour for our people. The relationship between our two countries will slowly be redefined, to the point where a visa may not even be necessary — that’s the objective, that’s what we want to do,” he elaborated.

In that regard, the Prime Minister pointed out the significant improvements in the Jamaican economy over the past three years, particularly in the country’s employment figures.

Holness also alluded to the fact that Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased over the years along with other aspects of economic growth, and encouraged Jamaicans living in the territory to invest in Jamaica, as the future of the country’s economy is promising.

“The only way forward now is up, and I feel the confidence in the economy. In the society our consumer index, in terms of measuring confidence and the producer index in terms of confidence, is high, very high, historically high records,” the Prime Minister said.

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