Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 09, 2019 (SKNIS): Minister of International Trade, Industry and Commerce, the Honourable Lindsay Grant, this week highlighted the importance of the Cariforum—European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to stakeholders here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Minister Grant was at the time speaking at a conference hosted by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with CARIFORUM Secretariat on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Minister Grant stated, “This workshop is very important because this is a workshop that is really designed to make sure that the stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis have the requisite knowledge concerning the CARIFORUM- EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).”
He went on to talk about there being a vast amount of information when it comes to goods under the EPA. He also pointed out where information may be lacking, saying that “where we need to impart more information is with regards to the services sector which is what this conference over the next two days is about.”
The European Union Economic Partnership Agreement is an accord between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and regions aimed at promoting ACP-EU trade – and ultimately contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Out of the ACP Countries, the Caribbean created CARIFORUM comprising of Caribbean ACP States which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement. It was created for the purpose of managing and coordinating policy dialogue between its Participating States and the EU.
