Trinidad and Tobago Government News: The Caribbean is well positioned - Cadiz



The Caribbean is well positioned - Cadiz

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15 May, 2012 12:58:00

 

May 15, 2012:
The Caribbean is well positioned to be the gateway to the Americas, said Trade
and Industry Minister, Stephen Cadiz.
Cadiz made the statement as he spoke at the opening of the second annual
Caribbean Investment Forum at Hilton Trinidad on Monday.
"This region is a region of great interest to the rest of the world. The region
sustained economic growth and has continued to attract investors seeking to tap
into dynamic domestic markets," he said.
Cadiz noted that the Caribbean region remains ready and committed to fostering
economic linkages for furthering trade and investment and to be more outward
oriented.
“We continue to emphasize that our successful collaborations are based on the
principles of voluntary participation, equal footing, mutual benefit, market
orientation and the pursuit of win-win outcomes,” he said.
As such, the Minister said the opening of the Panama Canal will have positive
effects on world trade.
"The days when we could think of each of our economies in isolation are long
gone.  What happens in the Americas, impact the Caribbean and the rest of the
world. For instance, the opening of the Panama Canal is going to have far
reaching but positive effects on world trade," Cadiz said.
He said the challenge was to ensure globalisation and integration benefits a
broad base of the people.
“How do we ensure that the economic growth is sustainable and robust? How do
we ensure that there are economic opportunities for a wide cross section of our
people? How do we ensure that new business opportunities for new products and
new services are created, developed and sustained?" he said.
He noted that mechanisms and strategies were needed to be put in place to ensure
businesses, from micro to large scale, develop and grow.