The Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development hosted a UAE-Caribbean cultural evening yesterday on the sidelines of the UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Economy. Over 100 senior government officials, business leaders and decision-makers from the UAE and the Caribbean attended the event which featured artistic performances, ranging from traditional music to artistic performances.

HE Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation attended the event along with a number of Ministers from the Caribbean Basin Countries. Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and Her Excellency Olivia Grange MP, Minister of Culture, Entertainment, Gender and Sport for Jamaica, signed a memorandum of understanding for cultural cooperation between the governments of both countries. Commenting on the occasion, Al Kaabi said: "The Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Jamaica contributes to the development of bilateral cooperation in the cultural and creative domains. It allows both countries to benefit from each other’s cultural heritage and use our full potential to strengthen our relations."

Al Kaabi stressed that the memorandum is a first step towards more openness to the cultures of the Caribbean Basin countries. It will establish bilateral cultural cooperation in fields related to heritage, cultural and creative industries, and will support talented people through strategic collaboration to exchange information and expertise. The MoU sets out the venues of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of cultural and creative industries development, especially in publishing, translation, digital content, informatics and arts sectors.

Both parties agreed to collaborate in inviting experts and researchers in cultural fields to exchange experiences through their respective national institutions, as per the procedures set out in international conventions. They will further promote cooperation through cultural events and the exchange of visits between cultural officials, as well as writers and intellectuals from both countries; the translation and exchange of cultural books and publications, especially digital books; and exchange technical cooperation between the two countries in various fields including movies, animation, new digital technologies related to the cultural sector; and the exchange of bibliographic information and audio and video recordings related to heritage, music and the arts in both countries.