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Tradewatch
•
The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol. 7 No. 3 May-June, 2013
Tradewatch
TRADE & EXPORT DEVELOPMENT
Meeting on Trade and Investment Task Force
Caribbean Export as chair for the CARIFORUM, French Caribbean
Outermost Regions (FCORs) and EU Overseas Countries and
Territories (OCTs) Task Force on Trade and Investment, convened
the 7th Meeting of the Task Force in Tortola, British Virgin Islands
on May 30-31, 2013.
The mandate of the Task Force on Trade and Investment is to
promote dialogue on issues related to trade and investment and
to assist with the identification of projects between CARIFORUM
States and the French Caribbean. This dialogue is important given
the fact that the French Caribbean Regions through their political
status with the French Republic is a party to the CARFIROUM-EU
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Speaking at the opening of the meeting Caribbean Exports’
Executive Director Pamela Coke Hamilton stressed that “It is
also important to note that there are host of opportunities for
enhanced trade and investment between CARIFORUM States, the
French Caribbean and the OCTs. These opportunities range from
Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export, with the Honorable Oliver Joseph, Deputy National Authorising Officer,
Minister of Economic Development, Planning, Trade and Cooperatives, Grenada during the Task Force Meeting
the traditional trade in goods (where CARIFORUM enjoys trade
surpluses) but also with regard to trade in services where all parties
have significant opportunities to gain from enhanced private sector
involvement.”
Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, Premier, British Virgin
Islands echoed her sentiments and expressed that, “ Although BVI
has only observer status in the organisation we are proud to be part
of a forward moving process and congratulate the region for being
able to move forward with the EPA with the European Union (EU).”
The two day meeting allowed members of the task force to
examine the key developments that have taken place in 2010-
2012 as it relates to the CARIFORUM-EU relationship including an
update on the CARIFORUM-EU Partnership Strategy, deliberations
in the CARIFORUM-EU EPA Institutions and an update on European
Development Fund (EDF) programming.