1. OFFICE OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
Press Release
2nd Floor, PCJ Building 1st Floor, Speedbird House
36 Trafalgar Road Independence Square
Kingston 5, JAMAICA Bridgetown, BARBADOS
OTN Press/News Releases are available on the OTN’s website at www.crnm.org
Contact:
Marsha Drakes, Tel: (246) 430-1678
marsha.drakes@crnm.org
For Immediate Release: No. 06/2011
November 10, 2011
CARICOM-CANADA TRADE DEVELOPMENT FORUM CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS – The CARICOM- Canada Trade Development Forum (TDF) took place on
November 2-3, 2011 at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Centre, Mississauga, Ontario.
The key objectives of the CARICOM-Canada TDF were to (i) identify tangible business opportunities
between CARICOM and Canada, which may be facilitated by the negotiation of a more mature
trading agreement, and (ii) to promote mechanisms to foster greater synergies between private and
public sector actors, which in turn, can strengthen private sector support for the Agreement.
A total of 141 delegates representing both CARICOM and Canada’s private sectors participated in
the Forum. CARICOM’s delegation was comprised of 51 participants representing firms and various
business support organizations, including a number of Regional Associations, Investment
promotion Agencies and National Services Coalitions) from Antigua & Barbuda; Barbados; Belize;
Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; Haiti; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent & The
Grenadines; The Bahamas; and Trinidad & Tobago. The OECS Secretariat and OTN staff members
were also in attendance. . Canada’s delegation was comprised of 90 participants representing
National Industry Associations, The Caribbean Diaspora and the Government of Canada.
Office of Trade Negotiations CARICOM Secretariat
1st Floor Speedbird House, Independence Square
Bridgetown BB 11121, Barbados
Tel: (246) 430 1670 Fax: (246) 228 9528

2. Over the two days of the Forum, the delegates engaged in discussions that resulted in a number of
sales leads, prospective business contracts, as well as a set of recommendations, some of which
pertain to the current trade negotiations between CARICOM and Canada. One of the main
recommendations from the private sector participants was that the negotiations should seek to
address practical measures to improve their international competitiveness. The delegates further
encouraged that the negotiating process should be completed with sensitivity to the concerns of the
private sector, particularly micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSME).
While the level of dialogue at the Forum was praised, the delegates were strongly encouraged to
use their respective national consultation mechanisms in order to continue to advocate their trade
and business interests and as well as their recommendations on the way forward.
It is anticipated that the virtual Forum(https://caricom-canada-tdf.teamlab.com/auth.aspx), which
was established in advance of the TDF in order to encourage dialogue and collaboration amongst
firms and the wider business communities, will continue to play a role in facilitating ongoing
dialogue on trade between CARICOM and Canada, and in promoting matchmaking prospects for the
delegates of the Forum and other interested members of the CARICOM and Canadian business
communities.
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Office of Trade Negotiations CARICOM Secretariat
1st Floor Speedbird House, Independence Square
Bridgetown BB 11121, Barbados
Tel: (246) 430 1670 Fax: (246) 228 9528