ACP Regional Briefing - Small Island Economies: from Vulnerabilities to Opportunities

The Briefing was  intended to share knowledge on the main challenges and opportunities of the small island economies, notably in key areas such as trade, climate change and natural disasters, as well as new economic opportunities for rural areas (new markets, green growth, services, ICTS…). Representatives from islands from the Pacific, the Caribbean and Africa met to exchange views and identify the urgent and concrete policy actions of common interest that need to be in place.

Particularly, the Regional Briefing discussed vulnerabilities and economic opportunities as the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a greater risk of marginalization from the global economy than many other developing countries. This essentially results from the combined adverse consequences of their small size, remoteness from large markets, high transport costs, and high economic vulnerability to economic and natural shocks beyond domestic control.

As the Briefing dealt with climate change and natural disasters, policy options were considered to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. Likewise, and especially in the context of Rio+20, it looked at how greening economy can offer real opportunities for  small islands and enhance sustainable development.