BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (March 8, 2005): Minister responsible for trade and industry, the Hon. Dr Timothy Harris, described The CARICOM Trade Support Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago as a useful endeavour of which the private sector should take advantage.
Minister Harris was commenting on the TT$100 million programme of technical trade support during the national launch with member companies of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Placing the Trade Support Initiative within the global context, Minister Harris indicated that unity in vision and action was key to the regions future development, and commended the Initiative as contributing the regions economic sustainability.
Described as a mutually beneficial programme, the CARICOM Trade Support Initiative is designed to enhance trading capacity of member countries, address the imbalance in trade between Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the Caribbean Community, to work in support of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, and ultimately to help regional companies prepare for and compete in a liberalized trade environment. CTSI Programme Coordinator Neville Blake pointed out that the programme would achieve their goals through technical support as well as through education and awareness.
Mr. Blake is part of a team from the CTSI programme currently engaged in the launch of the programme in member countries of the Caribbean Community.
