X Trade Promotion Organisations Forum (TPO)

General information

Dates and venue for the forum

In October 2009, Haiti will be hosting for the first time a business and investments forum. As it has always been the case, this year again, a Trade Promotion Organisations Forum will also be held. This event will take place at one of the most prestigious venues in the region, the Karibe Convention Center, on October 23rd, 2009.

Topic

The topic for discussion is « Defining a common strategy for business promotion in the Greater Caribbean ».

Main objective of the forum

The upcoming meeting of the TPO of the Greater Caribbean which will be held in Haiti will allow the representatives of the TPO to review the current context for investments in the region, to identify the challenges, and to suggest policies and measure to better attract and benefit from potential investments.

Specific objectives

The TPO Forum is aiming at:

• Jointly analysing the efficiency of the policies for the promotion and facilitation of trade and investments in the region
• Promote a partnership as well as a mechanism to better achieve common objectives in the area of investments.

Target audience

It is suggested that all the directors of the trade promotion agencies of the Greater Caribbean should be involved. Based on the willingness of the Haitian authorities to implement a private-public partnership through the CFI, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce presidents should also be invited. Indeed, they are responsible for the promotion of investments in the same way the State is. Also, and from a strategic perspective, the international agencies encouraging investment promotion and facilitation should also attend, as participants, and especially as panellists, since they are the ones who analyse these policies, establish rankings, and impact on how attractive a region or a country can be.

Expected outcome

This one day forum will be followed by signatures of agreements and should have positive effects on the strengthening of inter-agencies partnerships, while creating a consensus among the agencies, the private sector and the international organisations involved. The follow-up will allow for the implementation of cooperation and mutual assistance program on the one hand, and support to the companies in the region on the other hand.

Organisation of the Forum

• Presentations in plenary sessions will be made, followed by debates and shared experiences. A summary of the discussions will be made by the moderator after each presentation
• The organising committee will be responsible for sending out the relevant documents in advance
• Powerpoint presentations will be preferred, for the discussions to be interactive
• At the end of the day, the ceremony of the signature of agreements between the CFI and other trade promotion agencies will be held, under the auspices of the ACS Secretariat and the other international agencies attending.