The British High Commission in Kingston has hailed the United Kingdom’s second Trade Mission to Jamaica as a major success in strengthening bilateral partnerships and creating new business opportunities across key sectors, including infrastructure, logistics, waste management, education, and agriculture.

Held from October 8 to 10, the mission was jointly organised by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and The Caribbean Council, in partnership with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC). The three-day visit featured high-level briefings, business-to-business meetings, and networking sessions between UK delegates and Jamaican government and private sector leaders.

The trade mission comes amid a 40 per cent increase in bilateral trade between the UK and Jamaica over the past four years, underscoring a growing commitment to expand British investment and provide greater opportunities for Jamaican businesses in the UK market.

Deputy British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Jonathan Cook, said the mission underscored the UK’s commitment to long-term economic partnership with Jamaica. “This mission marks a significant step forward in deepening commercial ties between our two nations and demonstrates that partnership goes beyond sentiment; it’s about creating opportunities for economic dignity and mutual growth. The UK and Jamaica share a rich history, enduring values, and a shared vision for inclusive and sustainable growth. We are proud to host a dynamic delegation of UK companies, and our hope is that this mission will spark even more success stories that deliver prosperity for decades to come,” he said.

Cook added that the UK is working closely with Jamaica to align trade and technical cooperation with national development priorities, including leveraging UK Export Finance (UKEF) to help Jamaican projects access up to £5 million in financing. This support extends to major infrastructure initiatives such as the redevelopment of Jamaica’s National Stadium.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill, welcomed the mission and reaffirmed the Government of Jamaica’s commitment to fostering joint ventures between Jamaican and British firms. “We have major investment opportunities ahead, and we want to encourage real collaboration. British construction companies should partner with our local Class 1 contractors to take on the largest projects. We are reviewing procurement rules to make it easier for these partnerships to thrive—so that collaboration truly means something,” the Minister said.

Managing Director of The Caribbean Council, Chris Bennett, said the delegation reflected the UK’s confidence in Jamaica’s investment climate. “We’re here to promote two-way trade and investment between the UK and Jamaica. This is the second trade mission we’ve brought since the pandemic, and we’re very excited about the opportunities we see for increased UK engagement across all sectors of the Jamaican economy,” he said.

Seven UK firms participated in the trade mission, including Inciner8, NCUK, Mowlem Group, NSG Exports Ltd, Amey, and JP Logistics Solutions, representing industries such as infrastructure, education, engineering, and logistics.

The UK Trade Mission to Jamaica forms part of Britain’s broader global growth strategy aimed at expanding international partnerships and leveraging frameworks such as the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement, which promotes sustainable growth and deepens trade ties with the Caribbean. The initiative follows last year’s successful post-COVID trade mission, further positioning Jamaica as a strategic gateway for UK business engagement across the region.