The two-day meeting brings together the organization’s Executive Board and representatives of its member states to discuss progress, challenges and prospects in trade relations within the region and with other countries.
The Minister of Economy of Suriname and President of the event, Rishma N. Kuldipsingh, during the opening called for reaching the necessary consensus to ensure that the people of the Caribbean can enjoy free transit in the region by March 2024, as this is considered an essential step in the long-awaited Caricom Single Market and Economy (MUEC).
He called for an in-depth debate on the proposals to harmonize laws and practices in the trade environment, a review of the negotiation process for an agreement between Caricom and Colombia and a review of preparations for the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization.
For her part, the bloc’s secretary general, Carla Barnett, expressed confidence that the meeting will provide a political impetus to formulate regulations related to the performance of the corporate sector, macroeconomic coordination and policies in the industrial and agricultural sectors.
The Council is responsible for promoting the development and operation of the MUEC and for establishing policies to promote the production, quality control and marketing of Caribbean goods and services in accordance with international standards.
In addition to numerous responsibilities, it also agrees on policies aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the development of the area, the use of natural and energy resources and the protection of the environment.
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