Conference on Caribbean in June

A conference on the Caribbean is being planned for June 2007, so as to have a number of development issues which affect the region addressed at the highest level in the United States of America administration. This was announced by Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Delano Franklyn, during his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on February 23. The Senator said that the conference would aim to identify priority areas for growth and development; strengthen the relationship between the Caribbean and the United States; promote the Caribbean in Washington and define future trade relationship between the Caribbean and the United States.
“Jamaica has been assigned the lead responsibility for the enhancement of economic relations between CARICOM and the United States, particularly as it relates to the private sector dialogue,” Senator Franklyn pointed out.
The conference is being organized under the theme: ‘Conference of the Caribbean, a 20/20 vision’, and there will be discussions on improving economic performance, strengthening institutions, linkages with international actors, security co-operation and harnessing the potential of the Diaspora.
On another matter, Senator Franklyn said that Jamaica’s role in CARICOM was very important and the country remained committed to the consolidation of the Single Market and the establishment of the Single Economy.
“With the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, CARICOM will become an even more integral part of Jamaica’s national policy agenda,” he said.