SAJ, EU strengthen dialogue on Jamaica’s logistics hub potential
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Members of the EU delegation and the Shipping Association of Jamaica team at Kingston Wharves Limited.
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Members of the EU delegation and the Shipping Association of Jamaica team at Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited.
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Front row (from left): Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, president, Shipping Association of Jamaica; Elena Vilar Pascual, EU Geo-coordinator for Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas; Akeela Marin, senior business development manager, Shipping Association of Jamaica. Back row (from left): Neil Smith, management committee member, Shipping Association of Jamaica; Trevor Riley, consultant, Shipping Association of Jamaica; Ishmael Leon, vice-president, finance, Port Authority of Jamaica; Charles Johnston, management committee member, Shipping Association of Jamaica; Jeffrey Hall, chairman, Kingston Wharves Limited; Ancieto Rodriguez Ruiz, first counsellor and head of cooperation, EU Delegation to Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas; Andre Fache, programme manager, EU Delegation to Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas; Carlos Cabrera, chief executive officer, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited; Dwain Powell, vice-president, port community system, Port Authority of Jamaica; Pat Francis, consultant, Shipping Association of Jamaica.
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Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), chairs a meeting with the EU delegation and representatives of the SAJ management team, Kingston Wharves Limited, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, and the Jamaica Port Authority.
Jamaica’s ambition to become a major regional logistics hub received a fresh vote of confidence this week as the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) and the European Union (EU) strengthened dialogue on the island’s long-term maritime and trade potential.
Both sides emerged from high-level talks expressing optimism that sustained collaboration could unlock significant economic gains for Jamaica, including increased trade flows, job creation, and a more resilient maritime sector. The engagement underscored a shared belief that with the right partnerships and planning, Jamaica is well positioned to deepen its role as a key logistics gateway for the Caribbean and the wider region.
The meeting, chaired by SAJ President Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, brought together the association’s management team along with representatives from Kingston Wharves Limited, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited, and the Jamaica Port Authority. The EU delegation included Ms Elena Vilar Pascual, EU Geo-coordinator for Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas; Mr Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, first counsellor and head of cooperation; and Mr.Andre Fache, programme manager.
Discussions centred on updates and continued cooperation on the Logistics Hub initiative, which has been under development for the past two years. Participants reaffirmed a common goal of leveraging Jamaica’s strategic geographic location, strengthening port and logistics capabilities, and improving the efficiency of goods moving through the region.
In her opening remarks, Robertson-Sylvester pointed to the SAJ’s long-standing role as an advocate and convener within the maritime industry, stressing that strong public-private and international partnerships would be critical to driving the next phase of growth. Project updates were delivered by Pat Francis, consultant to the association, who outlined ongoing planning work and stakeholder engagement linked to the initiative.
The dialogue also reflected broader alignment with development priorities such as modern infrastructure, trade facilitation, and sustainability, areas seen as essential to Jamaica’s future competitiveness in global logistics and maritime services.
As part of the visit, the EU delegation toured two of Kingston’s port terminals, gaining first-hand insight into local operations and infrastructure. The tour created additional space for discussion on future development opportunities and deeper cooperation across Jamaica’s port and logistics ecosystem.