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 more

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 more

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 more

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 more

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 more

From January 2008 the following individuals joined the CAIC family assuming the positions indicated below.

Join us in welcoming them! read more

The 15th EXPOCARIBE trade fair, organised by the Cuban Chamber of Commerce ,takes place from June 1-6, 2008 at the “Herida” Convention Centre in Santiago de Cuba. The trade fair focuses on promoting economic and commercial relations between the countries of the Carib-bean and Cuba. Participants can expect to interact with visitors from the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe offering business ventures in a range of sectors including agriculture, construction, health biotechnology and tourism. read more

Mr. Nigel John, President, Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce visited Trinidad on 21st January 2008.

This visit coincided with his visit to Suriname for the inauguration of the CACICOM Competition Commission which was held on 18th January 2008. Mr. Nigel John was accompanied by Ms. Carol Ayoung, CEO, CAIC, Dr Ronald Ramkissoon, Vice President, CAIC and Mr. Audley Walker, Treasurer, CAIC. The team met with the Hon. Prime Minister Patrick Manning, the Hon. Minister Mr. Keith Rowley, Minister of Trade and Industry and the Hon. Mrs. Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The CAIC delegates were well received and discussions centered on the activities of the CAIC with particular reference to the Caribbean Business Council. read more

There’s been a suggestion that the Caribbean integration process include other islands outside the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It has come form President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Nigel John, who along with CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington, lead a joint mission to the island of St. Maarten which is separated into the Dutch side Sint Maarten and the French side Saint Martin. Among the main items of discussion during the visit was the possibility of increasing trade in agricultural products in particular to enhance Sint Maarten’s capacity to provide for its population as well as its significant tourist arrivals. Mr. John emphasised the need for more efficient and voluminous trade with Sint Maarten. read more

This project which was launched in August 2006 is scheduled to end in December 2008. A significant part of the implementation process is the formulation of a Sustainability Plan. Approximately sixty stakeholders came together at a workshop on April 14th to 15th 2008, to develop a Sustainability Plan that would facilitate a smooth transition of the ILO/USDOL Workplace Education Programme to full national ownership and continuation of the world of work response to HIV and AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago. read more