Seiveright Urges Overseas Jamaicans to Invest as Diaspora Conference Opens in Montego Bay

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Delano Seiveright, minister of state in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, has urged members of the overseas Jamaican community to put more money into the domestic economy.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, he told a plenary session at the Montego Bay Convention Centre that tight fiscal management, together with steady macroeconomic and political conditions, have left the country better placed to attract capital than at any time in recent decades. "Jamaica, today is stronger, more stable and more investment-ready than at any point in our modern history," he said.

The event, built around the theme "Diaspora Partnerships: Rebuilding a More Resilient Jamaica," is examining how Jamaicans abroad can help the country recover from recent shocks. Seiveright said the island has held its ground against global pressures, pointing to ongoing infrastructure works, falling crime, and a stable exchange rate as positive signs.

He also noted that gross international reserves stand at roughly US$6.5 billion—enough to cover more than 34 weeks of imports, nearly three times the international benchmark of about 12 weeks. For a small developing nation still rebuilding after a category-five hurricane, he called that reserve level a "remarkable position."

Seiveright said sound economic fundamentals and a long record of political calm make Jamaica appealing to investors, banks, rating agencies, and global capital markets. "Investors notice and so do our friends in the diaspora. Jamaica's pathway to prosperity is grounded in stability, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to rebuilding a more resilient economy together," he told delegates.

Monday's plenary framed cross-border teamwork—drawing on diaspora skills, overseas investment, and trade ties—as central to Jamaica's continued recovery and growth. Conference organisers said the wider gathering aims to present the country as a model of resilience and a credible place for opportunity in a difficult global economy.