CARICOM DEEPENS TRADE RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA AND THE PACIFIC

Georgetown, November 11 (PL)- Trade Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) urged countries in the region to explore new opportunities in South America, and deepen trade and investment relations with the Group of African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP).

In a two-day meeting in this capital, Guyana's Foreign Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who became president of the entity Council for Trade and Economic Development (Coted), called to speed up the implementation of the decisions taken to deepen the regional integration movement.

"The history of the Caribbean is full of examples of regional leadership in the global community. We must rediscover the area's natural instinct to lead and not just follow. We are small but not insignificant, "said she.

Speaking at the meeting, which ended on Saturday, she urged to initiate major changes and called for greater private sector participation in business area. He also spoke in favor of encouraging competitive production in the area according to the objectives of the CARICOM Single Market.

"We will offer a real value for the investment of the people in the Caribbean project. In this sense, Coted can and should build on the ideas and suggestions of Caribbean citizens in the formulation of policies and the implementation process," she emphasized.

CARICOM Secretary General Irwin La Rocque, explained that the strategies adopted at this meeting are seeking answers to alleviate the low growth in the area and the high levels of debt.

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