Caribbean Net News: CARICOM member states agree on plan for trade facilitation

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, have agreed on a plan of action to support trade initiatives among member states.

The plan of action was signed by the Secretaries General of CARICOM, along with their counterparts of the Central American Integration System. There was focus on areas such as human resource development, health, housing, poverty eradication foreign police coordination, trade and investment. Issues of crime, air transport, tourism, and cultural exchanges were also discussed.

Ministers met in Belize from February 22 to 23 to finalize the plan.

They also arrived at consensus on the utilization of the relevant provision of the CARICOM/Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement to facilitate the accession of member states of SICA to that Agreement.

Meanwhile, countries of the Central American Integration System are expected this week to submit formal applications to the CARICOM Secretariat that would facilitate their accession to the CARICOM/Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement.