BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) convenes its 93rd Directors and Joint Chamber Manufacturers Meeting today (Feb. 5) in St. Kitts, as the organization hopes to map its plans for trade and commerce in 2009.
Over 15 representatives from Chambers of Industry and Commerce from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dutch Sint Maarten and the Dominican Republic are expected to be present for the special two-day gathering.
Director of the Manufacturing Division of the St. Kitts-Nevis CIC Carol Evelyn told SKNVibes that the meeting, originally planned for later in the year, had been rescheduled as a response to the ongoing economic crises was needed in a timely manner.
“In the meeting, we are hoping to review all major plans made in our last meeting in Jamaica and discuss financial reports of CAIC. Some of our major focal points include the upgrade and maintenance of the CAIC website and a detailed session on intellectual property rights. We also hope to discuss the establishment of the Caribbean Chamber Academy and we will outline our schedule of activities for 2009.
“We hope to focus on a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)/CARICOM project which would give financial donations to the CARICOM Secretariat for business development within the region as we move toward a single market economy. This fund would be made available to businesses in need of such assistance once they apply.”
Evelyn said Governor of Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Sir K. Dwight Venner would address the body on the role of Chambers of Industry and Commerce in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) and would focus on how businesses must play a more meaningful role in strengthening the economies of the region.
He added that Samuel Berridge of the Ministry of International Trade would be given a presentation on the impacts of the European Union (EU)/CARICOM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on the region’s economies. Discussions in relation to the launch of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Business Council and an economic partnership with Brazil are also high on the agenda.
The CAIC is made up of a number of Chambers of Industry and Commerce from across the region and lobby for the advancement of private sector companies that they represent.
