The agri-food distribution service sector is particularly important as it facilitates the delivery of agri-food products from the producer to the consumer using the services of retailers, wholesalers and restaurants. The agri-food distribution services sector is particularly important to CARICOM. The Food Distribution Service industry in CARICOM has over 17,000 firms, employing 112,000 people and generating sales of US$ 5.6 billion per annum.
CARICOM
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – As the Caribbean seeks to diversify its services exports, a clear area of comparative advantage is the culture and entertainment sector. In striving to promote Caribbean interests in this sector in external negotiations the CRNM realized that it was first necessary to get a more precise overview of the cultural industries. Based on consultations with industry stakeholders in 2004, the CRNM commissioned a comprehensive study to provide background on the cultural industries in CARICOM and their position in the global market.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Stakeholders on Sugar are confident that the industry will retain its ability to meet the challenges of the international environment for the commodity.
WASHINGTON, DC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-US trade relations received a boost today, as a result of a decision by the two sides to revitalize a long-dormant Trade and Investment Council (TIC). This decision was reached at a meeting of CARICOM Trade Ministers with United States Trade Representative Rob Portman in Washington, D.C. this afternoon. One of eight CARICOM Ministers at the meeting, Hon.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade Ministers are to meet with United States Trade Representative Rob Portman in Washington, D.C., April 12. In addition to Member State delegations, the CARICOM Secretary-General H.E. Edwin Carrington and the Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal will also participate in the meeting.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Speaking to members of the Press over the weekend ahead of the Fifth Meeting of CARIFORUM-EU Principle Negotiators taking place here in Barbados today and tomorrow, Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Director General Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal reaffirmed the RNM’s commitment to interfacing with civil society. “We welcome regular interaction with non-state actors,” he said, emphasizing that “the RNM’s outreach activities are geared at engaging a broad cross-section of stakeholders, to the extent that resources allow.
Historic Step towards greater Regional Unity Ceremonial Inauguration of the Caricom Single Market held An historic milestone was reached with the formal launch of the CARICOM Single Market (CSM) on Monday January 30, in Kingston, Jamaica. A new spirit of regional cooperation was ushered in at yesterday’s signing ceremony, which marked the signing of two declarations by the Heads of Government of CARICOM.
The Word Trade Organization’s (WTO) biennial Ministerial Conference gets underway this week in Hong Kong. With the six-day Sixth WTO Ministerial poised to start tomorrow, there have been a series of setbacks in global trade talks, that in large measure have been brought on by an unwillingness on the part of certain countries to yield concessions in respect of liberalizing agricultural markets, resulting in a scaling back of the agenda for the Ministerial.
Ahead of the Ministerial, the Caribbean has been expressing concern at how ‘development issues’ are finding expression in on-going talks.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Caribbean Trade Ministers meeting in Barbados yesterday (November 19), in preparation for the Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Hong Kong December 13 to 18, emphasized that unless development issues are given prominence in the negotiating agenda, the Ministerial is not likely to end in agreement. This is fundamental for small, vulnerable Caribbean countries.
The development dimension of the Doha Round is vitally important for the Caribbean, but continues to be neglected in the negotiating agenda.
SMALL, VULNERABLE STATES AT PERIPHERY OF WTO, SAYS HARRIS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Chairperson of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference met with three key Caribbean Trade Ministers in the Region this week, amid dire warnings that a series of high-level meetings in the coming days needed to spur momentum in flagging global trade talks or efforts to put a deal together in time for the year-end Ministerial would be at risk of failure. Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of Hong Kong, China Mr.