From left: VJ Angelo, former CEO of the London Derivatives Exchange; Ray Mullett, UK-based businessman and infrastructure investor; Delano Seiveright, state minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce; Shullette Cox, president of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro); Chris Ellis, UK-based business strategist and commercial development executive; and Laurence Jones, business development manager at Jampro, during a meeting in London as part of Jamaica’s trade and investment mission to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
State minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Seiveright is urging more Jamaican companies to aggressively pursue opportunities in the United Kingdom (UK).
Pointing to the continued success and expansion of Grace Foods UK, Seiveright said this is a strong example of Jamaican-rooted business success internationally.
He made the call during a series of business and investment engagements as part of Jamaica’s ongoing trade and investment mission to Ireland and the UK coordinated by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro).
Among the major engagements was a high-level meeting with Sir Chris Bryant, the United Kingdom’s minister of state for trade at the Department for Business and Trade, where discussions focused on strengthening Jamaica-UK trade and investment relations, expanding commercial partnerships, and positioning Jamaica more strategically within logistics, manufacturing, digital services, and nearshore business opportunities.
The meeting included Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Alexander Williams; British High Commissioner to Jamaica Alicia Herbert; Jampro President Shullette Cox; and D’Jamila Ward, regional director for the Commonwealth Caribbean at the UK Department for Business and Trade.
Seiveright also visited Grace Foods UK headquarters and distribution operations in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, alongside representatives of Jampro and the Jamaican delegation.
Grace Foods UK is regarded as the leading supplier of Caribbean food and drink products in the United Kingdom and commands more than one-third of the UK’s Caribbean food market. Its operations are anchored by a purpose-built approximately 120,000 square foot multi-temperature distribution facility serving retailers and consumers across the UK market.
Seiveright said the scale and success of Grace Foods UK demonstrate the significant commercial opportunities available for Jamaican and Caribbean brands internationally once supported by strong logistics, quality standards, marketing, and long-term business strategy.
“Grace Foods UK represents one of the clearest examples of Jamaican enterprise successfully building scale, brand recognition, and commercial influence internationally,” Seiveright said.
“We want more Jamaican companies to look aggressively at export opportunities, partnerships, and market expansion within the United Kingdom and wider Europe,” he added.
The minister noted that the UK remains an important export and investment market for Jamaica given the long-standing historical ties, large Caribbean Diaspora population, and strong familiarity with Jamaican culture and products.
He also highlighted Jamaica’s macroeconomic stability, logistics infrastructure, and investment climate, as he argued that Jamaica continues to strengthen its position as one of the Caribbean’s more strategically connected and investment-ready economies.
Seiveright pointed to growing opportunities across manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, tourism, digital services, infrastructure, and nearshore operations.
The UK engagements also included meetings with investors, business leaders, and representatives of major international financial institutions exploring opportunities in Jamaica.
The broader mission to Ireland and the United Kingdom was undertaken under the strategic direction of Prime Minister Andrew Holness and portfolio minister Senator Aubyn Hill and included participation from Jampro, the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), and members of the Jamaican private sector delegation.
Seiveright said the mission was focused on practical engagement, investor confidence, and creating long-term economic opportunities for Jamaica and the Jamaican people.
“This mission is fundamentally about helping Jamaican businesses grow, expanding exports, attracting investment, and positioning Jamaica strongly within an increasingly competitive global economy,” added Seiveright.