CARIBBEAN MINISTERS UPBEAT ON A MORE PROSPEROUS REGION

Santo Domingo, June 17- The Caribbean must integrate even further to bolster the region’s participation in the global economy, and re-launch policies and institutions for a stronger and more confident population, as the only path toward significantly prosperous and progressive societies.

Foreign minister Carlos Morales made the statement to open a Special Meeting of the Caribbean Forum’s (CARIFORUM) Council of Ministers, which stresses the region’s importance for the international community.

Morales, upon welcoming the ministers and CARIFORUM Secretary General Irwin Laroque, said he’s confident that significant progress and a more prosperous Caribbean will surge from the meeting.

He said integration will give the Caribbean economies the strength needed to boost exports in key markets and respond effectively to the global crises. "Many are the threats that must push us to expedite integration and now more than ever we need institutional mechanisms that promote regional integration dialogue.

He said as natural partners the Caribbean must address the many challenges its small economies face “as highly fragile to external shocks”.

Morales said CARIFORUM countries have strengthened ties as never before in recent years, and noted opportunities such as the European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.

Morales listed among the actions taken during the revolving presidency held by Dominican Republic which ends next month, paced by major CARIFORUM’s reforms for governance and technical and administrative structures, which "have brought new winds of hope and change to the Caribbean’s integration and cooperation process”.

For Laroque, the gathering’s conclusions are expected to spawn interesting conversations conducive to the region’s development, and thanked Morales for the efforts during his tenure.

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