Jamaica will move to formally establish diplomatic relations with two West African countries and six Pacific island states as Cabinet approved the geopolitical alliances recently.

Information Minister Fayval Williams, announcing the decision at Wednesday’s (March 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, explained that the countries include Liberia and Togolese Republic (also known as Togo) and well as the Republic of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.

“Jamaica has consistently sought to deepen relations with countries in Africa, given the shared historical connections. It is important for Jamaica to diversify its bilateral partnerships as a means of broadening the scope of engagement and the pursuit of opportunities for increased trade, investment and political collaboration as well as technical and economic cooperation,” Minister Williams explained.

“The African states represent a ready pool of countries, with which Jamaica can explore such cooperation. The establishment of diplomatic relations with Liberia and Togo is in keeping with the policy objective of Jamaica: to develop greater and more meaningful engagement with African countries, to providing increased opportunities for economic, technical and cultural cooperation and the pursuit of trade and mutual benefits,” she added.

The announcement continues Jamaica’s long history of deep bilateral and multilateral relations globally since independence in 1962.

“The establishment of diplomatic relations with these countries will cement Jamaica’s strategic plans to establish a greater presence in, and intensify relationships with, small island developing states of the Pacific [Ocean]. It will also provide opportunities for the diversification of Jamaica’s bilateral economic, technical and cultural portfolio—given the shared similarities and challenges in population, climate and sociopolitical structures,” the minister said.

“There is a scope of cooperation in multiple areas, including environment, health, hazard mitigation, disaster resilience, education, agriculture and fisheries. The formalisation of relations with these countries will serve to deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation in the political and technical fields,” Williams indicated.