British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce Launched at Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay
New bilateral Chamber will support MSMEs, diaspora entrepreneurs and exporters seeking practical pathways between Jamaica and the United Kingdom
The British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce was formally launched in Montego Bay on 15 June during the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, with an evening reception for UK delegates, invited guests, partners and stakeholders. The Chamber has been established to strengthen practical trade, investment and enterprise links between Jamaica and the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, diaspora-led businesses and companies seeking to grow across both markets.
For many years, members of the Jamaican diaspora and people of Jamaican heritage in the United Kingdom have expressed a strong desire to do business in Jamaica, invest in Jamaican enterprise, build partnerships and contribute to economic growth. However, many have also found the process difficult to navigate. For smaller businesses, the challenge is often not a lack of ambition, but a lack of structured support, trusted networks, market readiness, legal guidance and clear routes into the right institutions.
The British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce has been created to help bridge that gap. It will act as a practical incubator and convening platform, helping businesses understand both markets, prepare for growth and connect with the right support at the right stage. The Chamber will provide mentorship, business development support, revenue growth workshops, scale-up modules, legal and consultancy guidance, export readiness support, investor engagement opportunities and curated introductions to partners across Jamaica and the UK.
The Chamber will also support Jamaican businesses that want to export, expand or build commercial relationships in the United Kingdom. By connecting Jamaican entrepreneurs and exporters with UK-based members, diaspora networks, professional advisers and larger institutions, the Chamber will help create a more tangible pathway for trade. Its role will be complementary to, and aligned with, existing national institutions and agencies, including organisations such as the Department for Business and Trade, JAMPRO, the British High Commission in Jamaica, the Jamaican High Commission in London and other public and private sector partners.
British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Alicia Herbert, and Jamaican High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Williams both underscored the importance of the Chamber in strengthening trade relations between Jamaica and the UK:
“The British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce has the potential to play a vital role in strengthening business links, supporting entrepreneurs and creating new pathways for trade and investment,” they said. “It will work with a range of existing entities to ensure that our economic relationship reflects the full breath of the potential across both nations.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator, The Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith said:
“The launch of the British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce is critical and will form a strong bridge between businesses in both countries and serve as formal tool of advocacy, support and networking.”
Speaking at the launch, Co-Founders of the British Jamaican Chamber of Commerce, Nathaniel Peat and Khori Hyde said:
“Jamaica and the United Kingdom share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties, this Chamber is about building that bridge. We must now turn those ties into structured business opportunities. The Chamber will help create the networks, mentorship and practical support that entrepreneurs need to unlock growth.”
The initiative responds to a clear need in the market: smaller businesses often require a different kind of support from larger corporations. While formal trade channels play an essential role, many micro, small and medium-sized enterprises need earlier-stage guidance, practical preparation and relationship-building before they can fully benefit from those channels. The Chamber is designed to occupy that space, helping businesses become more confident, credible and commercially ready.
