Press Releases
Reception for the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference Hosted by Foreign Minister Iwaya
On December 12, at the Iikura Guest House, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, hosted a reception ahead of the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference, scheduled on December 14. The reception was attended by approximately 100 people, including the foreign ministers and other high-level officials from 14 member states that comprise the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) who are currently visiting Japan, as well as distinguished guests from politics, economy and academia of Japan and the CARICOM countries.
- Minister Iwaya in his opening speech expressed his pleasure to host the Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference in Japan for the first time in 10 years on the occasion of the Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2024. He also welcomed the visits to Japan by the foreign ministers and other high-level officials of the CARICOM countries.
- Minister Iwaya noted that although Japan and CARICOM countries are geographically distant, they are tremendously close in the international arena and extremely important partners. He expressed the hope for beneficial exchanges of views at the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference on December 14, and he stated that Japan intends to continue to closely cooperate with CARICOM countries in the international arena. Minister Iwaya also noted that Japan values such friendship and cooperation with CARICOM countries, and has provided support for raising awareness of challenges and issues in CARICOM countries under the three pillars of Japan’s CARICOM policy. He also stated that people-to-people connections support friendship and cooperation between Japan and CARICOM countries, and expressed his hope to further expand the circle of exchange during the next decade.
- In response, Hon. Vince Henderson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy of the Commonwealth of Dominica, who is serving as co-chair at the Conference, expressed his appreciation for holding the reception hosted by Minister Iwaya and for Japan’s various cooperation to CARICOM countries, on behalf of the participants.
- Ms. ERI Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who attended the meeting with Minister Iwaya, also welcomed the foreign ministers and other high-level officials of the CARICOM countries, and had a friendly conversation with them. The reception provided an opportunity for participants from all countries to deepen their mutual friendships and build momentum ahead of the Eighth Ministerial-Level Conference on December 14.
- Antigua and Barbuda: H.E. Daven C. Joseph, Ambassador and Development Commissioner, Office of the Prime Minister
- Commonwealth of The Bahamas: Hon. Frederick Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Barbados: Hon. Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Senior Minister coordinating Productive Sector
- Belize: Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology
- Dominica: Hon. Dr. Vince Henderson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy
- Grenada: Hon. Joseph Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development of Grenada
- Co-operative Republic of Guyana: Hon. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Republic of Haiti: H.E. Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship
- Jamaica: Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
- Saint Christopher and Nevis: H.E.Ms. Kaye Bass, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Saint Lucia: Hon. Alva Romanus Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines：Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs
- Republic of Suriname: H.E. Mr. Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation
- Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: Senator the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM
- Secretariat of CARICOM: Ms. Elizabeth Solomon, Assistant Secretary General, Foreign and Community Relations
The year 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the start of the Japan-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Consultations, as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Jamaica, and Japan and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. To commemorate these events, the year 2024 has been designated as the “Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2024” and commemorative projects will be implemented in Japan and CARICOM countries with the aim of deepening exchanges between Japan and CARICOM countries through the year.