The Region-wide series of public education workshops which touches on a wide range of issues relating to the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) will continue in Guyana during this month.
CSME
The Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development, gets underway tomorrow, 8th October, 1999 at the Secretariat's Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana.
Ministers and officials will deliberate on several issues of importance to the Region, foremost among them being the status of moves towards the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. In this regard they will focus on the progress towards the implementation of Protocols VIII and IX, the last of the instruments which seek to amend the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
In this era of increasing trade liberalisation the Caribbean is being increasingly regarded as an area of great significance . This point was underscored by the Region's Chief Negotiator, Sir Shridat Ramphal. His comments came as he opened the Second Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) on 9 September 1999 at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana.
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Mr.Edwin Carrington has implored Member States to redouble efforts for the timely completion of the key elements of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSM&E).
A wide range of issues relating to the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSM&E) will come under the microscope in at least three Member States of the Caribbean Community in May.
In a series of consensus building exercises, officials from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat's Programme on the Single Market, the Technical Action Services Unit (TASU) and the Communications Unit will meet with public and private sector officials in Saint Lucia, Dominica and Belize starting in May 1999.
The Fifth Meeting of the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) Council For Trade and Economic Development (COTED) begins in Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday.
Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade, the Hon. Ricardo Cabrisas will lead his country's delegation of public and private sector officials to the Caribbean-Cuba Trade and Investment Symposium to be held in Guyana on November 20-21.
Cuba will be the focus of four days of activity in Guyana beginning November 18.
The CARICOM/Cuba Joint Commission will hold its Fifth Meeting on November 18-19 and immediately following, Guyana will be host for a two-day Caribbean/Cuba Trade and Investment Symposium on November 20-21. The symposium is being held with the assistance of the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA).
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed on August 22, 1998 between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic will establish a Free Trade Area composed of 14 million people when it comes into effect.
The FTA will come into effect either on January 1, 1999 or upon completion of a plan of action scheduled to be completed ninety days after the signing of the Agreement. Both parties will then take the necessary administrative and legal action to give effect to the Agreement.
CARICOM's Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Byron Blake is hopeful that the Regional private sector will take full advantage of opportunities provided under Free Trade Agreements entered into between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other countries, and groupings.