The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Climate Financing, and Energy Security are among the key issues being deliberated as CARICOM Heads of Government (CHOG) meet here in Georgetown.
At the opening of the Business Session at the Guyana Marriott this morning, President Irfaan Ali, who is the current CARICOM Chairman, said he expects the Heads of Government to engage in open and transparent discussions on the challenges confronting the region.
The President said the slothful implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy remains a major cause for concern, adding that during the course of the regional meeting, it is expected that there will be interventions that could lead to the strengthening of the sub-committee on the Senior Legal Officers to advance the Single Market and Economy.
Another critical issue on the agenda relates to small and medium enterprises.
“An important issue in the region is the building of SMEs, and we will be looking at ways in which the region can work on enhancing the work of SMEs, ways in which our partners can help us to support the building and expansion of SMEs, and the more critical integration of SMEs into the regional economy,” the Chair of CARICOM said.
The President said even as the Caribbean Community works towards reducing the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025, it has agreed to also channel its energies towards the elimination of hunger and malnutrition in the region by 2030.
“Food and energy security are two important topics that we will also be discussing. How do we ensure that we not only meet the 25 by 2025 target but now, advance work on ending hunger and malnutrition in the region by 2030, the type of investment that is required, the commitment from our international partners to support sustainable and resilient food systems,” President Ali said.
Additionally, he said CARICOM will continue to advance the region’s position on Climate Change, Climate Financing, Adaptation and Mitigation with the aim of having a “fair mechanism” in place through which new loans are secured for the developing world in keeping with the just transition, and the push to achieving the climate targets.
Haiti, and the upcoming with meeting with the President of Brazil, and opportunities for collaboration with Brazil, Energy Security and Regional Transportation are among other issues being discussed by the CARICOM leaders.
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