The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Spain are poised to start an exciting new phase in their relationship.
This is the result of a two-day seminar at the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) headquarters in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago which ended on Saturday October 30, 1999. The CARICOM Secretariat, Latin American Economic System (SELA), and the Spanish Agency for International Co-Operation (AECI) organised the seminar as a follow up to the discussion held in Port-of-Spain last July during the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Don Jose Maria Aznar.
Spain’s Ambassador to Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean States, His Excellency Fernando de la Serna said at the close that the seminar “was a further step in the relationship between Spain and the Caribbean.” He said it was a long road with difficulties but would eventually be of benefit to all. Senor Juan Ignacio Sell of the AECI said his organisation had achieved its objectives and it was now up to the experts to identify initial action to allow for implementation in a very short space of time.
The seminar explored co-operation in Tourism, Fisheries, the teaching of Spanish as a second language, strengthening the export capabilities of Small and Medium Enterprises and business facilitation between the two sides.
A number of suggested projects were put forward. These include: teacher exchanges to assist in the conduct and testing methodology of Spanish oral examinations at CXC, the improvement of interpretation and translation skills, increased linkages between Small and Medium Enterprises in Spain and the Caribbean and fish stock assessment and management as well as research into marine eco-systems. Both sides agreed that fundamental to increased co-operation was a broadening of the Spanish language capability in the CARICOM countries.
Spanish investment in Latin America including the Caribbean has risen from $800 million (US) in 1996 to $8.7 billion (US) in 1998 but very little of that investment has been channeled to the non-Hispanic Caribbean except for an energy project in Trinidad and Tobago. The investment has mainly been in the services sector particularly telecommunications, tourism, insurance and banking.
The volume of trade between Spain and Latin America has also grown with both exports from Spain and Latin America growing with the balance in favour of Spain. Direct Investment and Public Development Aid from Spain to Latin America has also grown. With Spain ($4.9 billion (US)) now second only to the United Kingdom in investment in Latin America and second only to Germany with $1.8 billion (US) in Public Development Aid.
Officials of CARICOM countries and institutions including, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, hosts Trinidad and Tobago as well as the CARICOM Secretariat, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the University of the West Indies, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Caribbean Export Development Agency, the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, the Caribbean Examinations Council and the Institute of Business participated.
