Brussels Policy Briefing no.37

Event programme

8h00-8h45 Registration

8h45-9h00 Objectives of the Briefing and Programme

Introductory remarks: EC, ACP, CTA

9h00-10h45 Panel 1: Drivers to enhance trade resilience and agribusiness development in SIDS

Small islands face a greater risk of marginalization due to combined adverse consequences of their small size, remoteness from large markets and high economic vulnerability to economic and natural shocks beyond domestic control. This panel will give an overview of the main challenges and opportunities for agribusiness development in SIDS.

Chair: H.E. Dr. Len Ishmael, Ambassador of Eastern Caribbean States (ECS) 

Panellists:

- Key implications for ACP SIDS in the context of Doha Development round

Stephen Fevrier, Trade Adviser, Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva

- Accelerating Regional trade for improved food security in the Indian Ocean region.

Jean Claude de l’Estrac, Secretary General, Indian Ocean Commission (tbc)

-  Institutional and enabling environment to support trade resilience in SIDS

Swinburne Lestrade, Former Director General, OECS

- Trade opportunities in the Pacific: from policies to practice

Veniana Qalo, Senior Trade Policy Specialist, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

- Building resilience through trade and green growth

Ambassador Edwin Laurent, Senior Advisor, The Caribbean Green Economy Initiative

10h45-11h00 Coffee break

11h00-13h00 Panel 2: Learning from successes in agribusiness

This panel will discuss some best practices in agribusiness in ACP regions and strategies to identify new opportunities especially through innovative partnerships.

Chair: H.E. M. H.E. Fatumanava Luteru, Ambassador of Samoa

Panellists:

- Successes in agribusiness in the Caribbean and lessons learned

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director at Caribbean Export Development Agency

- Successes in improving business and trade climate in Eastern Caribbean States

Randolph Cato, Eastern Caribbean States

- Farm to table: opportunities and connections that farms have with tourism industry

Mereia Volavola, CEO, Pacific Island Private Sector Organization (PIPSO)

- Successes in accessing export markets or root crops and lessons learned

Maria Lailai Moi, Director, Ben's Trading Ltd, Fiji Linking small farmers with agribusiness: niche markets and branding strategies Shadel Nyack Compton, Managing Director, Belmont Estate, Grenada

- Expanding economic opportunities of women’s farmers and entrepreneurs

Carmen Nurse, President, Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers (CANROP) 

Conclusion: Michael Hailu, Director of CTA 

Networking Lunch