Region endorses Regional Aid for Trade Strategy

CARIBBEAN officials who met recently in Haiti, have endorsed the Regional Aid for Trade Strategy to assist the region in becoming more competitive.

This issue is highlighted in the Communiqué following the Intersessional meeting in the French-speaking territory.

According to the document, the Conference endorsed the Strategy which is regarded as a critical tool for mobilising resources needed for the region to enhance its competitiveness in the international market place.

“Preparation of the Strategy, which was supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), was the subject of consultations across the Caribbean Community including with representatives of civil society,” it was pointed out.

The goals of the Strategy are upgrading key economic infrastructure; enhancing competitiveness and facilitating trade expansion and diversification; and deepening regional integration and maximising gains from external trade agreements.

To achieve these goals, priority attention will be given to transformational projects in Maritime Transport, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Energy.

The Conference agreed the Strategy would be formally launched under the auspices of the Chairman of the Conference and looked forward to the participation of the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), other development partners and institutions.