The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is hosting Diplomatic Week 2026, an event that helps outline and shape the country’s foreign policy.
For the past 14 years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has held Diplomatic Week, bringing together ambassadors, honorary consuls, foreign partners, and other stakeholders to meet, collaborate, and communicate foreign policy.
Diplomatic Week 2026 will be held October 18 to October 22 at Margaritaville Resort, downtown.
With last year’s theme focused on security, Trade Commission Chairman and this year’s Diplomatic Week Chair Barry Griffin, said this year’s conference theme targets trade.
“The theme for this year is ‘Orange, Blue, and Green Economies, New Frontiers for Trade and Economic Development.’
“Based on what’s happening in the world and what’s happening in the country, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of The Bahamas thought it important to focus our foreign policy on trade and the economies that underpin The Bahamas as a whole,” Mr. Griffin said.
Mr. Griffin said The Bahamas has great talent and potential in natural resources and human resources. Thus, the event aims to strengthen the country’s human resources for the orange economy and its natural resources for the blue and green economies. Mr. Griffin also said several ministries will participate in Diplomatic Week.
“Foreign Affairs is the principal ministry convening Diplomatic Week, but due to the nature of the theme and topic of Diplomatic Week this year, the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage will be involved.
“We’ll have involvement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.
“We will also have involvement from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
“All of these ministries help to play a key role in deciding the country’s economic policy and foreign policy,” the Trade Commission Chairman said.
Mr. Griffin also said Prime Minister, the Hon. Philip Davis will be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony. Key members of the government and the private sector will also participate throughout the week via video engagement and formal speaking sessions.
The opening ceremony for Diplomatic Week will be at 1:00 p.m. on October 19, and will be followed by discussions on the orange economy, with a panel entitled ‘The Orange Economy as National Power.’
Mr. Griffin also said on Tuesday, October 20, the focus will be on the blue and green economies. Panels will introduce and reveal the current Bahamian direction of the blue and green economies in climate diplomacy.
On Wednesday, October 21, the focus will be on trade. A private sector panel will give a trade outlook from the Bahamian private sector perspective. Another panel will deal with shipping and logistics. Private-sector professionals in shipping and logistics will discuss issues affecting trade with The Bahamas. Mr. Griffin said two ministers will speak that day: Minister of Economic Affairs, Sen. the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, and Minister of Innovation and National Development, the Hon. Sebastian Bastian, who will speak on AI and Trade opportunities.
Mr. Griffin also said he and the Bahamas Trade Commission will speak on several trade-related issues, including fisheries, the Bahamas’ largest export.
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Jomo Campbell, who also announced Diplomatic Week, expressed gratitude that the blue and green economies held a central place at the foreign service event, and anticipation in showing the benefits these economies have to offer Bahamians.
“I’m truly pleased to join you for this press briefing ahead of Diplomatic Week 2026, and I’m particularly thankful that the blue and green economies are taking center stage. We, for years, always talked about our sun, sand, and sea. And now, this is an opportunity to show the diplomatic community and the wider world how our marine resources, agriculture, and natural environment can contribute to a more prosperous future for The Bahamas,” said the Agriculture Minister.
The Minister also said The Bahamas has recognized that growing these economies can create new income sources, strengthen food security, expand trade, and help more Bahamians build successful businesses. He said these opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs, investors, foreign partners, and international collaborators can develop businesses, strengthen infrastructure, and bring expertise and technology in the blue and green economies. He said Diplomatic Week will establish such collaborations, and he and his ministry desire Bahamians to benefit.
“We want our diplomatic relationships to open doors for training, technical cooperation, investment, and market access, with clear benefits for Bahamian communities and businesses,” Minister Campbell said.
The Minister invited farmers, fishers, entrepreneurs, students, educators, and everyone interested in the blue and green economies to attend Diplomatic Week. He also invited investors and potential partners to engage with the discussions and explore where they can contribute.
In attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Department of Foreign Service, David Cates, CD; and the Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kemie Jones.
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