Intellectual Property (IP) is one of the most important issues in modern economy and it is increasingly becoming central to the competitiveness of companies in many sectors, particularly those that are more intensive in innovation. So, this article pretends to introduce some ideas about why chambers of commerce should embrace IP as an important subject matter that deserves close attention.

Read the rest of this entry »

The signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Caribbean and the European Union has been pushed back another month.

The new trade deal which member states of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) – the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic – completed negotiations on last December will now be signed in July instead of by the end of June.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has reported that Latin America and the Caribbean received a record US$106 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year.

And it has identified regional economic growth and the sustained global demand for natural resources as the driving force behind the investment growth.

Read the rest of this entry »

A diverse group of experts has urged regional governments to strike a balance between making money and protecting the environment.

They made the call at the 10th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism where, speaking as part of a panel on the theme ‘Challenges for the Caribbean Coastal Tourism Environment’, they pointed to “the inexorable link” between the seemingly divergent causes of profit and ecological protection and noted that each play a role in the future of Caribbean tourism.

Read the rest of this entry »

The issue of rising food prices and their impact on food security of populations around the World has prompted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to get a top level UN task force and World leaders to tackle the world food crisis. The issue was also raised for the first time at the WTO’s General Council meeting on 7 May 2008. In last one year or so, the prices of food grains along with other commodities have soared. “Before recent price hikes, the real price of food had been falling since the 1950s. The green revolution that began in mid 1960s saw developing world farmers planting improved varieties of cereals, prompting extraordinary increases in yields, falling food prices and reductions in poverty. But food prices have risen since the early 2000 and particularly since 2006.

Read the rest of this entry »

Diversifying products and services and improving agricultural practices were the key to poverty reduction in the world’s poorest countries, participants heard during a discussion at the Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII), which took place in Accra, Ghana.
Read the rest of this entry »

Worldwide events outside of our control, such s, energy costs, climate change, and new uses for agricultural products , present small developing countries with survival crises.

Read the rest of this entry »

The audit of CAIC’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 has been completed. At the 90th Board of Director’s meeting held on Saturday, April 19, 2008 the draft was presented. Mr. Robert Reis, Audit Manager at KMPG, made a brief presentation on the audit. He indicated that an unqualified report was issued and there should be no need to make any major adjustments to the figures as he was satisfied that the financed statement showed a true and fair view. The Board of Director’s was satisfied with KPMG’s findings and a directive was given to proceed to the next step which was the signing of the financial statements. Once completed the signed copy will be presented at the 91st Board of Director’s meeting/AGM in St. Lucia on the 13th June, 2008.