The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organization (CANTO’)s 1st Youth Forum themed `The Caribbean Startup- Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation’ will be launched on 27 January, 2015 during the organisation’s 31st Annual General Meeting and Mini Expo from 25– 29 January, 2015. This event expects to bring Youths from all around the Caribbean, together with established entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and other stakeholders in ICT at Hotel Torarica, in Paramaribo Suriname.
The Forum aims to engage the youths in stimulating tech start-up discussions and discussions on entrepreneurs incubation period, provide expert advice on business development and participation in the youth exhibition. The Forum promises to provide a fun, exciting and interactive experience that will not only captivate the minds of the Caribbean youths but also provide excellent networking opportunities. There will also be opportunities for participants to win prizes and give-aways.
PIEDATA measures the success of this inaugural CANTO Youth Forum by first, their youth participation rate. This has sparked a very energetic campaign to encourage as much of the Caribbean’s youth to come out and represent their territory. Secondly, success is measured by the ‘DATA’ or the wealth of knowledge that will be generated and then be used for the future development of their ‘Caribbean Youth Marketplace’ and the holistic development of the Caribbean region. As the event is carded for during the fourth week of January, to ensure maximum youth participation, starting time is set at 1:00 pm and admission to this first Youth Forum is free.
Organizations Involved
CANTO
The Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organization (CANTO) is one of the leading authorities that facilitate the development of ICT solutions for the benefit of their members and other stakeholders within the Caribbean region. CANTO has a wide variety of services and continues to develop and remodel its service portfolio to reflect the changing needs of its members. Services offered by CANTO:
Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition
AGM
ICT Training & Workshops
ICT Periodicals
For a full listing of their services and more in-depth information on CANTO, visit http://www.canto.org
TELSUR
TELESUR is a leading telecommunications company that provides full telecommunications services for the South American nation of Suriname. TELESUR specializes in providing mobile and landline telephone services and internet and data solutions to Suriname’s 500,000+ population. The company’s mission is to facilitate communication through innovative market-based solutions.
For more information about TELESUR, visit http://www.telesur.sr.
CARICOM
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seeks to promote Regional integration among Member States and Associate Members. This is coordinated through the CARICOM Secretariat which has a mission “to provide dynamic leadership and service, in partnership with Community Institutions and Groups, toward the attainment of a viable, internationally competitive and sustainable Community, with improved quality of life for all”.
The Community’s objectives include:
Improved standards of living and work;
Full employment of labour and other factors of production;
Accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and convergence;
Expansion of trade and economic relations with third States;
Enhanced levels of international competitiveness;
Organisation for increased production and productivity;
The achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and entities of any description;
Enhanced co-ordination of Member States’ foreign and [foreign] economic policies; and
Enhanced functional co-operation, including –
– More efficient operation of common services and activities for the benefit of its peoples;
– Accelerated promotion of greater understanding among its peoples and the advancement of their social, cultural and technological development;
– Intensified activities in areas such as health, education, transportation and telecommunications.
CARICOM has been extremely supportive of this initiative by CANTO, TELESUR and PIEDATA, and will play a significant role in the success of this first CANTO Youth Forum.
For more information about CARICOM, visit www.caricom.org You may also visit their blog at http://today.caricom.org/. For communication with CARICOM via social media you may like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caricom.org or follow them on twitter at twitter.com/caricomorg.
PIEDATA
PIE (PIEDATA) is a 21st century organization consisting of generation X and Y with the focus of bridging the Caribbean youth and leaders within the industries of information technology, mobile application, and content development. It provides a platform where the ‘Caribbean Brand’ can be developed and showcased and this is done in a three-stage process that include inspiring, educating and sustaining the Caribbean youths. PIE is where competition lives, PIE is where innovation lives. PIE~ Think Caribbean Technology —it all starts with your imagination.
PIEDATA appreciates the extent of this extraordinary partnership and co-hosting of this 1st Youth Forum, what it would mean for the revolutionizing of ICT within the Caribbean and the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation among youths which will take the Caribbean one step closer to Regional Integration.
To find out more about this Youth Forum contact:
67 Picton Street,
Newtown, Port of Spain
Office- 868-622-3770
Direct- 678-7782155
