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I S S U E 7 GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY LONDON OFFICE NEWSLETTER DATE: Q4 2017 JERSEY HOSTS 29TH BRITISH IRISH COUNCIL INSIDE STORIES SUMMIT The 29th Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council (BIC) was hosted in Jersey by Chief JERSEY HOSTS 29TH BRITISH Minister, Senator Ian Gorst on 10 November at the L’Horizon Hotel in St Brelade’s Bay. Formed IRISH COUNCIL SUMMIT in 1998 as a direct result of the Good Friday Agreement, the British Irish Council is made up of eight member administrations: the UK, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, working together on issues of common interest to citizens from across Page 2 these islands. NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED Over 100 delegates, including Heads of Governments and representatives from the eight member administrations arrived in Jersey on 9 November to attend the Chief Minister’s Page 3 Reception and Welcome Dinner. The following morning, Ministers representing the Creative Industries, met in advance of the MINISTERIAL BUSINESS Summit, to consider a report prepared by the BIC Creative Industries work sector, which is chaired by the Government of Jersey. The Creative Industries contribute approximately £98.6bn per year to the economies of the eight BIC member administrations. This meeting provided an Page 4 important opportunity to look at examples of good practice in addressing the skills gaps within the sector and the relationship between grass roots culture and professional creative activity. JERSEY IN THE UK BREXIT EVENT Following these discussions, Ministers endorsed a proposal for future collaboration on a pipeline of development through education; measures to encourage diversity among employees within DIGITAL JERSEY TO CREATE A the sector, and initiatives to maximise inclusivity for audiences. NEW INTERNET OF THINGS ‘LAB’ Creative Industries Ministers were also present at the Summit meeting and shared feedback on their discussions to Heads of Governments & Principals around the table. Next on the agenda JERSEY SAILOR SECURES 3RD PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL BOAT was a discussion of political developments across the BIC administrations, including the ongoing RACE dialogue between the power sharing parties regarding the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland and an update on Brexit developments. This was the first BIC Summit to be Page 5 held since the UK’s negotiations with the EU officially began earlier this year and was the first meeting attended by head of the Irish Government, Leo Varadkar TD, who replaced Enda Kenny SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON COMES TO JERSEY as Taoiseach in June. A communiqué was released at the conclusion of the meeting, reaffirming the Council’s shared LEADER OF UK WOMEN’S commitment to its role in promoting harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships across EQUALITY PARTY GIVES TALK IN JERSEY the British-Irish administrations, as set out in the 1998 Agreement. FOR MORE INFORMATION Follow the Jersey London Office’s twitter account: @GOJLondonOffice Or go to the website: www.londonoffice.gov.je For more island news visit www.gov.je/News For further information on the contents of this newsletter, to contribute to subsequent editions or should you no longer wish to receive newsletters, please contact [email protected] GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY LONDON OFFICE Page 2 Local producers showcased Event organisers were keen to ensure Ministerial delegates natural, unrefined sea salt without who travelled to Jersey for the BIC Summit were given a using artificial heat, which is free taste of the Island’s best produce. Ministers sampled local from chemical additives. They use low specialities including fresh seafood and Jersey black butter energy and low waste processes to during their stay and were presented with gifts, sourced turn local waters into pure salt from Jersey-based businesses, to take away with them. This crystals. BIC Ministers were each year, Jersey Sea Salt, the first producers of solar salt in given a pot of Jersey Sea Salt to take Jersey for 300 years, stood out as a highlight. Creators home, along with a jar of La Cremière David Miles and Matthew Taylor are the most Southerly salted caramel and newly produced, Credit: Jersey Sea Salt solar salt producers in the British Isles. They produce Jersey hemp oil. Home-grown talent enjoyed by BIC delegates songs and light jazz during the opening reception. Drawing on the theme of the The Musical Original Singers, Jersey’s premier youth choir who Creative Industries meeting, a were selected by the BBC to participate in the finals of the 2017 number of cultural elements European Broadcasting Union’s international competition, Let the were incorporated into the BIC Peoples Sing in Helsinki, also performed for senior BIC delegates event, providing an opportunity at the welcome dinner. to showcase some of Jersey’s local talent. Georgina Sutton, a The evening concluded with an inspiring performance by Jersey celebrated concert pianist from poet Christian Foley who recited a piece he had written to mark Jersey who studied at the the occasion. Heads of Government and Ministers from across the British Isles were entertained by Christian’s humorous and Royal College of Music - graduating with a BMus First insightful take on the enormous value of strong and positive Class Honours degree – played British-Irish relations, which left delegates enthused for their a mixture of classical, popular discussions the following day. Credit: Georgina Sutton NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED The Government of Jersey will Investment for English Partnerships, and Executive Director for welcome a new Chief Executive Regeneration at Liverpool City Council. in the New Year. The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said of the appointment Charlie Parker, currently the “Mr Parker brings with him a wealth of experience in successful Chief Executive of Westminster leadership, transforming local government organisations and City Council, will officially take attracting inward investment. His proven success in running up the post in January 2018. effective services for children and vulnerable adults and a high quality education service makes him a particularly suitable Mr Parker said “I am delighted appointment at this time in Jersey’s history, when we have Credit: itv.com to be taking up this unique committed to working together to make substantial changes to opportunity as Chief Executive for our services and our organisational culture. Mr Parker has the States of Jersey. I am looking forward to the exciting achieved these outcomes by building strong teams that work challenges of contributing to the continuing growth of the effectively together to achieve successful transformation. economy and supporting businesses in Jersey. I will con- tinue the work of transforming the public sector to deliver “I am confident that with his record of leading successful public great public services for the Island, maintaining Jersey as sector organisations, Mr Parker can support this government’s a prime tourist destination and supporting local communi- ambition to maintain Jersey’s successful economy, improve our ties.” productivity and invest in priority areas like health and social services and education to provide world class services for Mr Parker’s previous appointments have included Chief islanders.” Executive of Oldham Council, Clerk to the Greater Manchester Waste Authority, Director of Finance and I S S U E 7 Page 3 MINISTERIAL OVERSEAS TRIPS Middle East India As part of the Government of Jersey’s Jersey’s Minister for External Relations Jersey’s commitment to maintaining and undertook his first official visit to India Minister for developing its strong commercial links earlier this month, travelling to New Delhi External with the Gulf region, Chief Minister and Mumbai, to discuss the growing Relations & Senator Ian Gorst undertook his first relationship between India and Jersey and India’s Minister official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi the opportunities for developing closer of State for Arabia and Kingdom of Bahrain in ties. At present, Jersey has well- Environment, November. In Bahrain, the Chief established commercial relationships with Forest and Minister met with the Governor of the Indian businesses, and has in recent Climate Change Central Bank of Bahrain and the years, seen an increasing use of Jersey Minister of Finance, whilst in the investment vehicles to conduit representatives, including those from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia he held high- international capital into India for Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of level meetings with the Minister of infrastructure projects. Jersey also hosts a Finance, and the Ministry of State, Culture Foreign Affairs and the Vice-Minister number of successful companies of Indian and Tourism. of Finance. Discussions covered the origin including the Bharti Enterprise In Mumbai, the Minister participated in positive existing commercial and Group: Airtel Vodafone, InfrasoftTech, and the 2017 International Taxation regulatory cooperation between Jersey Minerva TCSP. Conference, hosted by the Foundation for and the Gulf, as well as exploring During his visit to New Delhi, Senator International Taxation and IBFD, in possibilities for strengthening and Bailhache was hosted by British High cooperation with the Organisation for developing these mutually beneficial Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Economic Co-operation and Development relationships in the months and years Asquith KCMG. He met with government (OECD) and met with companies in the ahead.