Minister Aubyn Hill to Attend 60th COTED Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana
MIIC Author
Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, will travel to Georgetown, Guyana to represent Jamaica at the 60th Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), scheduled for June 10–11, 2025. Minister Hill will attend on behalf of Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Minister Hill will join his regional counterparts under the chairmanship of Honourable Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, to deliberate on vital trade and economic development matters central to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the broader regional agenda.
The two-day meeting will consider a broad slate of regional trade and economic matters, including the advancement of the CSME—particularly the free movement of people and goods—along with revisions to the Common External Tariff (CET), rules of origin, regional industrial policy, trade in goods, and CARICOM’s evolving external trade strategy.
This high-level engagement follows preparatory sessions held virtually on May 7–8, chaired by Barbados’ Director of Foreign Trade, Paula Byer, and supported by Ambassador Wayne McCook, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for the CSME and Trade. The sessions outlined a demanding and strategic agenda aimed at accelerating economic integration and advancing timely decisions that benefit the region.
Minister Hill’s participation underscores Jamaica’s unwavering commitment to strengthening regional trade integration, improving the competitiveness of Jamaican producers, and aligning with the country’s wider trade and foreign policy priorities.
Following COTED, Minister Hill will lead an export and investment business mission in Guyana from June 12–13, 2025, joined by a delegation of 23 Jamaican companies and 35 individuals, representing a mix of small, medium, and large enterprises. The business delegation will be accompanied by key government officials. The mission forms part of the Minister’s ongoing strategy to drive export-focused engagements, as he continues to champion Jamaican companies expanding into regional markets to reduce the trade imbalance and accelerate economic growth.
Source: MIIC
Recent News
See all news
Posted on 12/10/2026
MIIC’s Hurricane Melissa Recovery – How to Access MSME Restoration Grants | Jamaica Magazine (Video)
As Jamaica continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) remains focused on helping affected businesses rebuild and restore their operations. On this episode of Jamaica Magazine...
Posted on 12/10/2026
MSME Restoration Grant Programme | Get the Facts with Minister Aubyn Hill (Video)
Small businesses are vital to Jamaica’s economy, and we recognise the challenges many entrepreneurs continue to face as they recover from the impact of Hurricane Melissa. On this episode of Get the Facts, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister of I...
Posted on 10/10/2026
Honey Bun Opens $1-Billion Manufacturing Facility in St. Catherine
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill (centre), converses with Honey Bun Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Chong (right), during a tour of the company’s new manufacturing facility at the MJS Industrial and ...
