The Caribbean Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce will mount a joint Ministerial/Private Sector Trade and Investment Mission to Southern Africa. The Caribbean Export Development Agency is collaborating in the organisation of the Mission that is scheduled for January 26-30, 1998.
This comes in response to a mandate given by the Heads of Government of CARICOM to explore the opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, cultural and other exchanges between the Region and South Africa following the accession of His Excellency President Nelson Mandela to power in South Africa.
Secretary General of CARICOM Mr Edwin Carrington visited South Africa and other countries in that Region in November 1995 which was followed by an invitation to President Mandela to attend the XVII Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Bridgetown, Barbados in July 1996. Although he was unable to attend, President Mandela despatched a personal envoy, the Hon Derek Hanekom, Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs to the Meeting. Also the Secretary General of the Southern African Development Council Mr Kaire Mbuende led a Mission from his organisation to the Region in February 1997.
Last month, the CARICOM Secretariat hosted a seminar at the Trinidad Hilton on Trade and Investment in Southern Africa as part of the preparatory process to the Mission. Members of the public and private sectors attended the seminar, which was facilitated by Kairi Consultants and had input from the CAIC and Dimpex Inc of South Africa.
In January, the public and private sector delegates will visit Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban in South Africa and Gabarone in Botswana, in keeping with the specific interests of the participants.
The organisers have requested members of the private sector to indicate their interest as soon as possible to facilitate arrangements for travel, accommodation and appointments with business contacts in South Africa. Registration forms should be returned by December 10, 1997.
Kairi Consultants Limited is assisting the Secretariat with arrangements for the Mission and information could be obtained by logging in to the website www.kairi.com/carisem.htm
For further information and registration materials please contact:
Director, Foreign Policy and External Economic Relations
CARICOM Secretariat
Bank of Guyana Building
1 Avenue of the Republic
Georgetown
GUYANA
Tel (592-2) 52960-1
Fax: (592-2) 59079
E-Mail: carisec3@caricom.orgMs Miriam Jacobs, Dr. Naola Ferguson or Mrs. Christine Commissiong
Kairi Consultants Ltd.
14 Cochrane Street
Tunapuna
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Tel/Fax: (868) 645 0642, 663-2677/1442
E-mail: carisem@kairi.com
