Trade and Economic Issues
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Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines move towards full Free Movement on 1 October 2025
Four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States—Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines—are on track to implement full Free Movement among themselves from 1 October this year. By implementing the full free movement regime, these four countries have agreed to grant their nationals the right to enter, leave and re-enter, move freely, reside, work and remain indefinitely in the…
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CARICOM and Colombia negotiate to expand South-South cooperation
CARICOM and Colombia trade negotiators concluded the second round of negotiations to update the CARICOM-Colombia Trade and Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (TECA), in Bogota, Colombia on 10 September 2025. The negotiations, which took place over two days, covered the expansion of preferential market access for agricultural and industrial products as well as institutional issues. The CARICOM negotiating Co Chair,…
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Literary Legend takes centre stage at CARIFESTA XV: Paul Keens-Douglas
Literary legend and cultural icon Paul Keens-Douglas captivated a new generation of storytellers at CARIFESTA XV with his transformative workshop, Vibrant Roots Storytelling Workshop, held on Tuesday, 26 August at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre. With a legacy spanning decades and works such as Tim Tim: The Dialect Poetry of Paul Keens-Douglas (1976) and Tanti At De Oval: Selected Works,…
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CARIFESTA XV Grand Market Shines with Caribbean Ingenuity and Sustainable Spirit
Sustainability theme reflected in local products at Grand Market Under the powerful theme “Caribbean Roots, Global Excellence,” CARIFESTA XV ignites a celebration of heritage, creativity, and forward-thinking resilience. Nowhere is this vision more vividly expressed than at the Grand Market, where regional artisans and innovators showcase products that honour tradition while embracing sustainability. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with…
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CARIFESTA XV Ignites the Creative and Entrepreneurial Spirit across the Caribbean
CARIFESTA XV is more than a celebration of Caribbean culture. It is a powerful catalyst for economic prosperity and creative resilience. In an exchange with CARICOM Secretariat Communications Manager Dike Noel, Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett affirms the festival’s vital role in shaping a brighter future for Caribbean entrepreneurs. “CARIFESTA creates lasting opportunities that empower entrepreneurs and contribute to their long-term…
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Work advances on CARICOM Industrial Policy
Consultations with key stakeholders have begun across the Region to finalise the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy in time for approval by Ministers of Trade later this year.Suriname, which holds responsibility for the Industrial Policy in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, is spearheading work towards its completion to present it to a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic…
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European Union commended for its continued support to CARIFORUM Directorate and CARIFORUM States
(CARIFORUM Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) – Activities undertaken under the Programme titled, Support to CARIFORUM in Effective Implementation of the CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Regional Coordination on Trade and EU Cooperation came under review recently during a virtual meeting. Chair of the Committee, Director General of CARIFORUM, Ms. Alexis Downes-Amsterdam expressed gratitude to the…
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Keynote Address | Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP | Prime Minister of Jamaica | Chairman of CARICOM | 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government| 6 July 2025
Thank you, colleagues. Let me acknowledge Senator Janice Allen, representing the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, Chief Ministers and Ministers of Government, Members of the Judiciary, The newly installed president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of regional and international organizations, Distinguished delegates, Specially…
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CARICOM urged to Recommit to Core Goals of Prosperity, Security, and Well-being for all Member States
“Together, we have nurtured a strong Caribbean identity that transcends borders, that is admired globally, and to which others aspire. As we begin our deliberations for this Forty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference, I encourage of us to retain our focus on the purpose of our partnership, which is the prosperity, security and well-being of all the people of our Region.”…
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Community’s food security journey transformative – CARICOM Secretariat Agriculture Manager
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is making significant strides in its pursuit of regional food security, with notable achievements in increased agricultural production, deeper intra-regional cooperation, and improved sector financing. “It’s an interesting journey for us. It’s a transformative journey that we have undertaken as a Region, and I’m happy to report that there have been positives; there have been some…
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