Venue: THE WESTIN SEVEN MILE BEACH RESORT & SPA

Date: THURSDAY JUNE 26, 2014

Opening ceremony: 08:30am – 09:30am

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) will be hosting the 9th Meeting of the CARIFORUM, the French Caribbean Outermost regions (FCORs) and EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Caribbean Task Force on Trade and Investment on June 26-27, 2014.

Speaking at the opening will be the Hon. Marco Archer, MLA – Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development – Cayman Islands and Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export.

Attending the event will be Government representatives from CARIFORUM, FCORs and OCTs, representatives from regional organisations such as Caribbean Export, CARICOM Secretariat and Secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and select members of the private sector.

About Caribbean Export

Caribbean Export is a regional export development and trade and investment promotion organisation of the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) currently executing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Export’s mission is to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality export development and trade and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic alliances.

More information about Caribbean Export can be found at www.carib-export.com

Contact: JoEllen Laryea, PR and Communications, Caribbean Export

9th Meeting of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment

DRAFT AGENDA (subject to change)

Day 1 – June 26, 2014

The Westin Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa

Grand Cayman

08:00 – 9:00  REGISTRATION

09:00 – 09:30           WELCOME ADDRESS AND OPENING REMARKS

Mrs Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export Development Agency and Chair of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment

Hon Marco Archer, MLA – Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ministry of Finance & Economic Development – Cayman Islands

09:30 – 10:00           UPDATE ON MATTERS ARISING FROM THE 8TH MEETING OF THE CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT TASK FORCE ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT

This Agenda item will briefly review the recommendations tabled at the 8th Meeting of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and

Investment and discuss the current status and issues arising from these recommendations. A report will also be given on the Final Reports of the

studies commissioned at the 7th Meeting of the Task Force. Where there is

overlap with substantive agenda items those issues will be deferred.

Mrs Pamela Coke-Hamilton – Executive Director, Caribbean Export and

Chair of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment

10:00 – 10:15            COFFEE BREAK

UPDATE ON CO-OPERATION INITIATIVES BETWEEN CARIFORUM AND THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN OUTERMOST REGIONS

10:15 – 11:15             Update on Declaration of Co-operation between Caribbean Export and the Regional Council of Guadeloupe – Mr Lurel Victorin, President   Regional Council of Guadeloupe

Update on INVEST KARAIB – Mr Jean Yves Lacascade, Director for

European Affairs and Cooperation, Regional Council of Martinique

Update on INTERREG – Mr Gilles Bajazet, Director, Joint Technical

Secretariat, INTERREG Caribbean

11:15 – 12:00            STRENGTHENING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES OF THE OCTS IN THE CARIBBEAN

This presentation will provide an overview on of the 10th EDF programme entitled, ‘Strengthening the development of small and medium enterprises of the OCTs in the Caribbean’ as well as outline the main activities to be undertaken under this programme.

Mr Alan Ramirez, PSD/SME Expert for the British OCTs

12:00 – 12:45           THE STATUS OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR IN THE CARIBBEAN

This Agenda item will focus on the work currently being conducted in this sector in the region. It will also highlight the standards the sharing of best practices for the promotion and protection of financial services and the development of a framework for collaboration amongst regional stakeholders and other organisations in academia, the private sector, the international community and other International Financial Centres where advocacy initiatives have been undertaken successfully.

Ms Tamara Y. Ebanks – Deputy Chief Officer, Ministry of Financial

Services, Commerce and Environment, Government of the Cayman Islands

12:45 – 14:00            LUNCH

14:00 – 14:30            OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE REGION

One of the goals of The Caribbean Community Regional Aid for Trade Strategy 2013-2015 is “Upgrading key economic infrastructure” and in particular, maritime transportation. This session shall review the Aid for Trade Strategy as it relates to Maritime transportation and identify areas of action that the Task Force may engage in that would complement the action being taken under the Aid for Trade Strategy.

Dr Pauline Yearwood, Deputy Programme Manager, Trasportation, CARICOM Secretariat

14:30 – 15:00            PRESENTATION ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT BUSINESS FORUM

The CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Business Forum will be held on June 25, 2014, immediately preceding the9^th Meeting of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment.        This meeting will investigate the opportunities for doing trade between the three sub-regions, as well as look at the challenges faced by businesses who wish to do business. The outcomes of this meeting will be presented during this session.

Mr David Gomez, Manager, Trade and Export Development, Caribbean

Export Development Agency

15:00 – 15:45           REPORT ON ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES’

TRADE MISSION TO MARTINIQUE AND GUADELOUPE.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, in collaboration with Caribbean Export, recently organised a Trade Mission to Martinique and Guadeloupe, which included businesses from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts/Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. This session will share the outcomes of this mission, including any opportunities created, challenges faced and the next steps.

Mr Vincent Philbert, Head, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States –

Export Development Unit

15:45 – 16:30           UPDATE BY CARIFORUM DIRECTORATE

This agenda item will review the remainder of the 10th EDF programme, especially as it relates to the FCORS and OCTS, the status of programming as it relates to the 11th EDF and the implications for the FCORS and the OCTS and the planned Wider Caribbean Programme.

. 10th EDF Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme

. 11th EDF Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme

. Wider Caribbean Programme

Mr Carlos Wharton, Director, EPA Implementation Unit. CARIFORUM Directorate

18:30 – 20:00           RECEPTION

9th Meeting of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment

AGENDA

Day 2 – June 27, 2014

The Westin Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa Grand Cayman

7:30 – 9:30     HIGH LEVEL BREAKFAST MEETING TO DISCUSS THE OCTROI DE MER

(CLOSED SESSION)

This breakfast meeting will include high level representatives from the Regional and sub-regional Agencies, such as the CARICOM Secretariat, CARIFORUM Directorate, the Secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the European Union, as well as Presidents of the Regional Councils of the FCORS and their counterparts from the OCTS, the Presidents of the Octroi de Mer Committees and high level government representatives from relevant CARIFORUM countries. The meeting will discuss the Octroi de Mer in general and possible policy changes which may be investigated with a view to reaching a policy that is amenable to all relevant parties.

10:00 – 12:00            DISCUSSION ON THE OCTROI DE MER

Representatives from the Octroi de Mer Committees of the FCORs will deliver technical presentations which will include information on the administration and implementation of the Octroi de Mer in their territory. In addition, a representative from the CARIFORUM Directorate will give an overview of the Legal Opinion on the Imposition of the Octroi de Mer by the French Caribbean Outermost Regions on Products Originating from CARIFORUM States and highlight the challenges faced by CARIFORUM businesses trying to do business in the FCORS. Finally two business persons will deliver presentations on their experiences with trading with the FCORS.

. Administration and Implementation of the Octroi de Mer   –

Representatives from the Octroi de Mer Committees of the FCORs

. Imposition   of   the   Octroi   de   Mer   –   CARIFORUM’s   Perspective   –

Representative from the CARIFORUM Directorate

. Experiences of CARIFORUM Private Sector

• Mr KissoonlalSinanan, Trade and Government Relations Manager, TCL Group
• Mr Ronald Ramjattan, Chief Executive Officer, Baron Foods Ltd

12:00 – 13:00   THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT UNIT IN THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN OUTERMOST REGION

A review of the Report on the Establishment of Technical Management Unit in the French Caribbean Outermost Region with a view to the operationalization of the Unit; taking into consideration the recommendations from the Business Forum regarding the needs of the private sector and the establishment of a technical assistance help desk.

Mrs Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export Development Agency and Chair of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment

13:15 – 14:30           LUNCH

14:30 – 15:15           THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (TBTS) AND OTHER TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS THAT AFFECT CARIFORUM EXPORTS TO THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN OUTERMOST REGIONS

Development of an Action Plan emanating from the Recommendations of the Comprehensive Study on the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs) and other Technical Requirements that affect CARIFORUM Exports to the French Caribbean Outermost Regions.

Mr David Gomez, Manager, Trade and Export Development, Caribbean

Export Development Agency

15:15 – 16:00            PRESENTATION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON TRADE

At the 8th Meeting of the Task Force a Sub-Committee on Trade was proposed. It is envisioned that this Committee address all issues arising in relation to trade between the CARIFORUM and FCOR Regions.   This presentation will address the composition of the Committee and its Terms of Reference.

Ms S Allyson Francis, Services Specialist, Caribbean Export Development

Agency

16:00 – 16:45           Wrap-up and Closing

. Mrs. Pamela Coke-Hamilton – Executive Director, Caribbean Export and Chair of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment