Kingston, Jamaica February 17-18, 2009

The OAS and the World Bank held a consultative workshop on their joint study entitled Caribbean: Accelerating Trade Integration: Policy Options for Sustained Growth, Job Creation and Poverty Reduction in Kingston, Jamaica on February 17-18, 2009. The main goal of the study was to identify strategies to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the implementation of the trade agreements recently signed by Caribbean countries, in particular the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement. The study outlines the policy options that will be critical for improving growth and competitiveness in the region and for reaping the benefits offered by reciprocal trade agreements.

The aim of the workshop was to engage stakeholders from CARIFORUM countries to reflect on the findings of the study and to develop an action plan with concrete actions that countries need to undertake and which can be supported by both governments and development partners.