program Business Exibition
The exhibition is the main component of the Business Forum. The exhibition will take place for two days in tandem with the other activities listed. It provides a venue for participating businesses to exhibit their products, services, and investment initiatives. Through the exhibition, businesses will have the chance to make connections, business deals, drive commercial synergies, and deepen business relationships. Additionally, it gives ACS delegates a taste of the entrepreneurial brilliance of the Greater Caribbean region and provides them with an opportunity to network with businesses on matters pertaining to regional economic growth.
program
Business 2 Business meetings
Businesses will have the chance to make connections, business deals and deepen business relationships.
The possibility is there to address challenges and offer solutions to improve transport connections, trade and investment opportunities and promote the development of regional value chains.
Seminars
Hosted by the ACS Secretariat and the Republic of Suriname, the Business Forum include a series of thematic seminars on subjects pertinent to the productive sectors of the region. It will provide a forum for discussion with local and regional stakeholders. The maximum duration of each session will be two (2) hours, with a keynote speaker and panel discussions with specialists from regional public and private sectors.
“Mechanisms to support Regional Business Development in the Greater Caribbean”
This panel discussion will be led by the representatives of four regional bodies – ACS, CARICOM, SELA and SICA – that represent different sub-regions in the Greater Caribbean. They all play a crucial role in coordinating efforts, sharing resources and implementing policies that support sustainable economic growth in the Greater Caribbean region. Whilst close business ties may exist at the sub-regional level, there are many business opportunities across the different sub-regions within the Greater Caribbean that remain untapped. Together, representatives of these secretariats will explore the challenges, ideas and possible solutions to enhance the regional business landscape especially in relation to tourism, transport connectivity, digitization and trade.
Proposed Theme: “Investment to promote Sustainable Economic Development in the Greater Caribbean region”
This meeting of Trade and Investment Promotion Organization is a meeting open only to nominated trade, business and investment promotion agencies in the ACS membership. Discussions will be centred on investment facilitation strategies to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Foreign investment is a critical component of economic development for developing countries. Attracting foreign and domestic investments can significantly contribute to job creation, technology transfer, and infrastructure development. Moreover, in developing countries alone, it is estimated that the implementation of the SDGs requires $4 trillion of investments per year (UNCTAD, 2014). This meeting will provide a space for dialogue and investment planning for IPAs and other business support organisations (BSO). It is an opportunity for the ACS Secretariat to engage with and identify areas of support for BSOs.
“Strengthening Regional Agribusiness Value Chains within the Greater Caribbean”
The proposed theme of Panel 1, “Strengthening Regional Agribusiness Value Chains within the Greater Caribbean”, will provide a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities for strengthening agribusiness value chains in the region. The region is an important source of food globally, generating some 13.6% of total agricultural exports (IDB 2021). Agribusiness covers a wide economic base in the Greater Caribbean and with a renewed focus on food security, strengthening the value chain and businesses in this sector is crucial. The panel discussion is intended to identify strategies to improve the participation of MSMEs in the regional agribusiness value chains, collaborative partnerships that can support this, technology that can improve opportunities in the sector, market access and export opportunities, capacity building, sustainable practices and general policy recommendations.
Schedule
Registration
Opening Ceremony and Cultural Performance
Visit to Exhibition: Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Coffee Break
Panel Discussion: Mechanisms to support Regional Business Development in the Greater Caribbean
Lunch Break
Panel Discussion: Investment to promote Sustainable Economic Development in the Greater Caribbean Region
Coffee Break
Panel Discussion: Strengthening Regional Agribusiness Value Chains within the Greater Caribbean
Visit to Exhibitions and Business-to-Business Sessions
8th International Cooperation Conference
Full schedule T.B.A.
Cocktail Reception
