EPA Implementation Bulletin - March-April 2012

Volume 2 | No. 2 | March/April 2012 “With all the above recommendations in mind, the Chamber once again secured funding from the Trade.com Facility to embark upon a trade mission [from 26th February to 7th March 2012 ] with the objectives of seeking strategic partnerships for Members, obtaining market intelligence, forging relationships with European BSOs and capacity building of Chamber staff. 28Copyright © 2012, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. All Rights Reserved.

Volume 2 | No. 2 | March/April 2012 “[The seminar series on the EPA in April 2012] was convened against the backdrop of a fair amount of discussion as to whether or not regional governments and the private sector have taken ownership of the EPA. 31Copyright © 2012, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. All Rights Reserved.

Volume 2 | No. 2 | March/April 2012Perspective end More for Our- selves — COTED ChairIn the face of the challenges currently confronting Ministers and delegates not to put off for tomorrowthe Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Member what could be done today.States needed to fend more for themselves andexpand intra-regional trade within the “Colleagues, this meeting of the COTED takesCommunity. This was the charge laid down by place at a time when CARICOM is undergoing aHonourable Dr John Collin McIntyre, Minister of period of introspection. Our Heads of GovernmentEmployment, Trade, Industry, Consumer and gave clear indications at their Conference earlierDiaspora Affairs of Dominica and Chairman of this month in Suriname, that it was time to askthe Council for Trade and Economic ourselves and to answer some serious questions.Development (COTED) as he spoke at the These questions relate to how, as an integrationOpening Ceremony of the 34th Meeting of grouping, we organize ourselves to deliver goodsCOTED in Georgetown, Guyana in late March. and services to our people and how we promote their interests and welfare. The next twelve (12)Minister McIntyre acknowledged that the months promise to bring interesting times anddeliberations were taking place against the developments to the Region,” Minister McIntyrebackground of the continuing fall out of the global said.financial and economic crisis and the sovereigndebt situation being experienced in Europe. He added that the COTED Meeting could continue its own process of introspection. “Maybe it is time“The signals are clear. We have to begin to “fend’ that we agree to approach our work in the mostmore for our own selves. We must begin to direct manner going to the heart of the issuesdeliberately target expanded economic activity, brought before us for discussion and decision-including intra-regional trade, among ourselves. making. Let us not put off for tomorrow what canI sincerely hope that, that spirit of mutual reliance be done today,” the Chairman told the Meeting.can inform our approach to all of the agendaitems which we must discuss,” Dr McIntyre said. The Chair’s outlook was shared by Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-GeneralCalling for efficiency in the way the business of who, in his statement also referred to the currentthe Meeting was conducted, he charged Trade mode of reform and change in the Community to- 40Copyright © 2012, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. All Rights Reserved.

EPA Implementation Bulletin - March-April 2012

by Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN), CARICOM Secretariat

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EPA Implementation Bulletin - March-April 2012 Document Transcript