THE CARIBBEAN RIM

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THE CARIBBEAN RIM PLATFORM INITIATIVE (CRPI) FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION, INVESTMENT AND TRADE

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including natural disasters; youth innovation and development and the strengthening of regional cooperation among Caribbean RIM countries; Establishment of a framework for the stimulation and enhancement of Investment; Trade Relations, including trade in services and Private Sector interaction and engagement between countries of the Caribbean RIM.

BACKGROUND One of the outputs agreed to by the III Conferencia International de Inversionistas y Expo Caribe Limon held in Limon, Costa Rica from 29-30 August 2016 is the establishment of a Caribbean RIM Platform for Cooperation, Trade and Investment. The Platform provides a framework for people to people interaction in the Caribbean RIM as well as to contribute to the stimulation of trade and investment between Costa Rica and the other countries of the Caribbean RIM. The Conference also acknowledged that such a Platform could facilitate regional cooperation between Caribbean RIM countries in a number of areas such as the stimulation of the growth of cultural industries and environmental sustainability and climate resilience among the countries of the Caribbean RIM; provide a context for Caribbean RIM tourism growth and development; strengthen trade and investment between Caribbean RIM countries and as well as stimulate youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

OBJECTIVES

Spearhead by a consortium of private sector entities, namely CaribInvest West Indies, S.A., Panama; Limon Roots, Costa Rica; Giordano Associates Limited, St. Lucia; CaribInvest (West Indies) Limited, Barbados and IntePro (West Indies) Limited, Guyana, the objectives of Caribbean Rim Platform Initiative (CRPI) are: Provision of a framework to enhance Regional Cooperation between Caribbean RIM countries taking into account cross-cutting issues such as culture, environment

Facilitation of Market Integration between the countries of the Caribbean Rim thereby providing the basis for the driving Afro-Caribbean products produced within the RIM and the creation of market opportunities, both within and external to the RIM. Provision of a framework for increasing interaction between persons of African descent in Caribbean RIM with Africa as well as facilitating the implementation of actions in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, in particular the development of linkages between professions of the African Descent of the Caribbean RIM including young entrepreneurs and business people.

The provision of a Forum exchanging of views and ideas on Caribbean Economic Expansion as well as an Expo for facilitating the promotion of commercial interaction between companies and entities of the Caribbean RIM and alsp foreign companies and interests.

GOVERNANCE THE CRPI

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The CRPI will be registered as an International Non-for-ProďŹ t legal entity and served by a Multi-Country Secretariat. Initially Hubs will be established in Costa Rica and Panama in Central America and St. Lucia, Barbados and Guyana in the Caribbean and will be expanded overtime, as necessary. The Multi-country Secretariat will have the overall responsibility for the coordination of and the driving the implementation of the various activities which are undertaken within the CRPI framework.

The Conferencia International de Inversionistas y Expo Caribe Limon will be expanded and developed further to service the needs of the CRPI. From 2017, the IV Conferencia International de Inversionistas y Expo Caribe Limon will also serve as the First International Conference and Expo of the Caribbean RIM Platform Initiative on Regional Cooperation, Investment and Trade.

PILLARS OF THE CRPI The operationalization of the CRPI will be informed by Seven (7) Pillars which will provide the context for driving the activities being undertaken within its framework. The initial Pillars which have been identiďŹ ed are:

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Pillar 1: Regional Cooperation: This will be a major focus of the CRPI as it seeks to strengthen cooperation between the countries of the Caribbean RIM in numerous areas, including, inter alia, the promotion and development of cultural industries; environmental sustainability and climate resilience; language promotion and development; diplomatic cooperation on fundamental issues affecting RIM countries, science, technology and education development.

Pillar 2: Investment and Trade including Trade in Services: This Pillar constitutes one of the core elements of the CRPI. This Pillar will focus on the facilitation of trade and investment among RIM countries. The emphasis will be placed on market access and private sector cooperation.

Pillar 3: Market Integration with a focus on Economic Integration: Contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth among CARIBBEAN RIM countries through an improved RIM economic integration .

Pillar 4: Youth, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: An important area of focus for the CRPI will be that of youth development and in particular the development of an enabling environment for the stimulation of innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth of the Caribbean RIM countries. This will contribute to growth among RIM countries through improved economic integration and development.

Pillar 5: Programme in Support of the Decade for People of African Decent: The United Nations General Assembly

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Caribbean (UNGA) has designated 2015 to 2024 to be observed as the International Decade for People of African Descent. The theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: Recognition, Justice and Development.�

Pillar 6: Facilitation, Conferences and Expos: the Multi-Country Secretariat will facilitate conferences, Trade Expositions, bi- and multi-lateral trade relations et al in support of activities of the RIM countries. The I Conference of the CRPI is the Conferencia International de Inversionistas y Expo Caribe Limon which will be expanded and developed further to service the needs of the CRPI. Pillar 7: Linkage to Africa Initiative: A focus of this Pillar will be the promotion of things Africa, in particular, African fashion. This Pillar will also facilitate cultural exchanges between the Afro-Caribbean persons of the RIM and Africa as well as the promotion of African music, dance and craft.

These Pillars will be supported by a Publication, Education and Awareness Strategy. An important dimension of this strategy will be the development and dissemination of content of Afro-Caribbean and persons of African Decent of the Caribbean of the Caribbean RIM. The CRPI will also be supported by a CARIRIM-SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM with the view of targeting the young demographic.

RIM For further information Please contact

LIMON ROOTS limonroots@gmail.com www.limonroots.com

The FRIEETAD Enhancing the development of the like - minded

FRIEETAD SecretaryFRIEETAD@gmail.com ChairFRIEETAD@gmail.com

THE CARIBINVEST GROUP caribinvestwiltd@gmail.com