The Context

Political and economic challenges of the greater caribbean

This region was not spared by the financial and economic crisis in 2008. Today, more and more importance is given to investments and private partnerships. Within multilateral institutions such as CARICOM, CARIFORUM, PETROCARIBE, the ACS, the United Nations and its agencies, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Union, and during the bilateral exchanges among the states of the region, the discussions and decisions are related to:

• The development of the services sector, with a predominant tourism sector. The financial services and telecommunications are also becoming new areas for business opportunities
• The challenges and opportunities of the trade integration instruments
• Financing enterprises in the context of the international financial crisis
• The importance of the logistical chain for the promotion of exchanges in the Caribbean region: the fundamental issue of air and sea transportation
• The solutions to save energy: the priority given to alternative sources of energy, including bio fuel
• The international oil and financial crisis: PETROCARIBE, one of the solutions for the region
• The sectors carrying economic growth potential in the region
• Competitiveness as an instrument for progress
• Business partnerships: a new instrument for regional integration and commercial exchanges.
• The role of governments and regional institutions in the promotion of investments and support to businesses.
• The support to charitable institutions in the establishment of services for workers and their dependants.
• Natural disaster management: prevention and financial instruments.