Delegates from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and Jamaica will participate in the historic conference.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding will be the principal speaker at the opening ceremony on Tuesday at the Mona Visitors' Lodge.

The Future Leaders conference is an offshoot of the Jamaican Diasporic Movement. It will be convened under the theme 'Connecting Diaspora Future Leaders: Solidifying our Places in our Homelands and Jamaica'. It is the collaborative effort of the Jamaican Diaspora Future Leaders, the University of the West Indies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Jamaican Diaspora Institute and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture

Outlining the rationale for the conference, Senator Ronald Robinson, who has direct responsibility for diaspora affairs, said: "It's really about strengthening the process of building networks of future leaders in the Jamaican Diaspora towards a more meaningful engagement in Jamaica's development and enhancing the positive perception that future leaders can play a critical role in leadership, governance and developing initiatives, as part of a global plan and one-Jamaica concept."

The event will include the staging of a number of workshops and seminars addressing different issues, including crime and violence, engaging youth in governance, entrepreneurship and business, and spirituality. There will also be a day of volunteer service where participants in the conference will lend a helping hand to inner-city projects.

A local implementation team chaired by Senator Robinson with the assistance of Professor Neville Ying, executive director, Jamaican Diaspora Institute, stakeholders and sponsors are guiding the conference.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen will be the keynote speaker at the closing ceremony.

Sponsors include the University of the West Indies, GraceKennedy Ltd, Jamaica National, LIME and Victoria Mutual.