13th January 2011

Jersey appoints its first Foreign Minister

Every independent state needs an official to represent it on the world stage – and the various Channel Islands are no exception. Thus, Jersey appointed Senator Freddie Cohen as its first Foreign Minister on 13 January 2011. His remit was to develop an effective presence for Jersey in London while championing Jersey’s position abroad.

A lengthy title

Cohen’s official title was Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for UK and International Relations, and the role saw him visit China, India, Israel and Malta. The position came into existence after the UK’s Ministry of Justice announced that it would no longer act as an intermediary between Jersey and the wider world. Previously, while the Ministry of Justice retained an interest in the matter, Jersey had been represented by the Chief Minister with support from Jersey Finance Limited.

In an opinion piece published on 17 January 2011, the Jersey Evening Post commented that Cohen was “well qualified for the post thanks to his many connections in the UK and in other parts of the world. Moreover, he is quite clearly a cultured man, with wide interests and a special understanding of the Island’s heritage, history and institutions.”

Promoting Jersey

Under Cohen’s leadership, Jersey promoted itself as a base for inward investment from companies that wanted a closer relationship with the European Union. In particular, it promoted opportunities for the development of clean technology.

The size and ambition of Jersey’s various trade delegations grew in the years following the creation of the Foreign Minister position with 30 representatives travelling to India in March 2011 to discuss financial business, taxation and legal matters.