UK–Jamaica trade grew 40 per cent under Slater’s tenure
Published:Monday | September 1, 2025 | 12:06 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
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WESTERN BUREAU: Outgoing British High Commissioner Judith Slater says bilateral trade between the United Kingdom (UK) and Jamaica has grown by 40 per cent over the past four years, driven by British investment and Jamaican companies breaking into...
WESTERN BUREAU:
Outgoing British High Commissioner Judith Slater says bilateral trade between the United Kingdom (UK) and Jamaica has grown by 40 per cent over the past four years, driven by British investment and Jamaican companies breaking into the UK market.
Reflecting on her time in Kingston, Slater said expanding economic ties was her most significant achievement.
“We’ve grown bilateral trade by 40 per cent over the last four years,” she said. “That’s a big step forward in our economic partnership.”
She credited close collaboration with Senator Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce, in leading trade missions and encouraging cross-border opportunities.
“We’ve been to London together a couple of times. We’ve helped Jamaican businesses grow their investments in the UK, and we’ve had significant successes with British firms coming here,” she said.
Several UK companies secured major contracts in Jamaica during her tenure. Among the most prominent was De La Rue, which won the contract to produce Jamaica’s new polymer banknotes, introduced in 2022. Others entered sectors shaping Jamaica’s economic future: the Phoenix Partnership digitalised hospital records, Securys strengthening cybersecurity systems, and British advisers supported Jamaican businesses in adopting solar technology to reduce costs and increase resilience.
SUCCESS STORY
On the Jamaican side, Slater pointed to one success story that stood out. Through a UK development initiative, 10 young Jamaican companies were funded to explore opportunities in Britain. One, fintech firm Shift Left, returned with multi-million-pound recurring contracts and expanded from three employees to 40.
“That’s a really good example I feel quite proud of,” Slater said. “If we can do more of that sort of thing, imagine what that would do for Jamaica.”
Established companies such as GraceKennedy, National Baking Company, Rainforest Seafoods and Jamaica Producers have long had a presence in the UK market, but Slater emphasised that nurturing start-ups and small firms was vital to creating jobs and diversifying Jamaica’s export base.
The UK has also supported Jamaica’s wider development agenda. Under the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), Britain has invested £53 million in two major irrigation projects, Essex Valley and Southern Plains, designed to boost agriculture and resilience.
Slater added that the UK’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF), has established a framework with the Ministry of Finance to help Jamaica access financing for large-scale infrastructure projects. She described the arrangement as a “game-changer” because it provides opportunities for the country to move forward with ambitious national developments while drawing on British expertise.
As she prepares to leave Jamaica in September, Slater is confident her successor will build on these economic ties.
“The trade and investment relationship is stronger than ever,” she said. “And there’s so much potential still to unlock.”