Final Project Conference at Port of Spain

The final event of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP) “Capacity Building Project on Competition, Public Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation Project” will take place on the 5th and 6th June 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. The EU funded project’s specific objective is to contribute to the effective implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), regarding Competition, Public Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation.

The Conference will bring together representatives of all CARIFORUM States and CARICOM Secretariat, Regional and International Experts, representatives of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Commission of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the CARICOM Competition Commission, University of the West Indies (UWI), the Consortium Partners (Equinoccio, London School of Economics, Maastricht School of Management and SGS), as well as representatives of the Donor Community.

Prior to this conference, seventy (70) programs have been completed with over 1700 public and private sector officials and professionals trained at different levels in the three areas covered by the project. The program included innovative train-the-trainer (ToT) courses that have further enhanced sustainability by enlarging the cohort of knowledgeable and skilled trainers in the region. Also, online post-graduate courses have been developed and incorporated into the Master in Trade Policy (MITP) of the University of the West Indies Shridath Ramphal Centre (SRC) that will make a continuing contribution to training and skills development in the region.

The conference will open at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, 5th June, with remarks from Her Excellency Ms. Gail Mathurin, Director General of the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) of the CARICOM Secretariat, CARIFORUM and EU representatives, the Project Implementing Consortium and partner institutions.  Senator, the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry will also give remarks on behalf of the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Conference papers reflecting on progress in the three technical areas and recommendations for the future will be presented.