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2008 New York Conference on The Caribbean Community Provides New Opportunities for CARICOM
by A & B Government News
Posted: Jun 28, 2008 02:27 UTC
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2008 New York Conference on The Caribbean Community Provides New Opportunities for CARICOM
NEW YORK (BIS) - The New York Conference on the Caribbean Community 2008 focused on: Investment, Trade, Education and the Diaspora.
The Education Symposium brought together professors, policymakers, political leaders, students and members of the Diaspora to discuss strategies to strengthen collaborative ties between higher education institutions in North America and the Caribbean. Dr. Edison Jackson, President of Medgar Evers College spoke about successful articulation agreements with institutions in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Dominica. At the Symposium a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed between Medgar Evers and the University of the West Indies to jointly engage in research in areas of Health Education, public policy and crime and security. A five member panel discussed various ways to develop new ties and to expand existing collaborations. They also suggested ways to involve educators in the Diaspora and provide more opportunities to facilitate the transfer of knowledge back to the region. Suggested methodologies were posited by panelists to enable more scholars from the CARICOM region to conduct research in the U nited States. The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzel Douglas, who spoke on behalf of CARICOM, suggested that a Charles Rangel education research center be established to further strengthen these collaborative ties. A full report on these and other recommendations will be compiled by the CARICOM Secretariat.
Trade: On Thursday June 19 Heads of Government and Delegates discussed the Caribbean Basin Initiative extension, the Agriculture Bill and other trade issues with Congressman Rangel and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Walter Bastian. Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Hon. W. Baldwin Spencer raised the WTO dispute with the U.S. representative and stressed the view that Antigua and Barbuda is interested in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement with the U.S. over the internet gaming dispute. Other Heads of Government raised concerns that small states in CARICOM are not given consideration regarding trade incentives in order to compete in the global marketplace. A prepared list of issues for follow-up discussions and action is being prepared for the Heads of Government.
There was a meeting between CARICOM Trade Ministers and Senior Officials from the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC). Issues involving joint ventures in tourism, investment and trade were discussed. Also Consul General McChesney Emanuel held talks with officials of the agency and urged them to open up an office in the Caribbean. The corporation is considering this request for establishing such an office in the Caribbean. He argued that the Empire State Development Corporation has offices in other parts of the world and the time has come to consider the Caribbean as a strategic location for such an office. He further suggested that there are close to one million Caribbean nationals residing in New York which makes this state an attractive destination for Caribbean products. There are many Caribbean companies that could benefit from having a functional office based in the region. The Empire State Development Corporation can provide grants, loans and other incentives to Caribbean businesses looking to penetrate the New York market.
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