MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica - Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has
challenged the Caribbean to embrace the warming of relations between the United
States of America and Cuba as opening up new opportunities for the region,
particularly in trade and tourism.
Patterson
was delivering the keynote address to the 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business
Forum hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export)
being held in the resort city at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in
collaboration with
the ACP Business Climate
facility (BizClim)
. He painted a vision of CARIFORUM in international
trade relations with Cuba as an integral part of the Caribbean.
With
a population of approximately 37 million, the region would have an expansive
economic zone with various advantages, among them, controlling very significant
sea and air routes.
Patterson,
who is also a former Minister of Tourism, sees the new Caribbean as a large
tourist area being able “to exercise real control over the berths for one-half
of the world cruise ships.”
It
would also be a boost to building a creative industry with few gaps. “The
inclusion of Cuba would strengthen greatly the educational and health
infrastructure. It would increase the depth and diversity of the creative and
other touristic offerings,” he advised.
As
one of the region’s most accomplished negotiators, Patterson posited that the
size of the internal market and production base would increase dramatically and
begin to demonstrate and lay a stronger and more operational base for
South/South Trade.
The
Jamaican statesman advised the CARIFORUM participants that a redefined
Caribbean “would be a powerhouse in world sports, not just in the sprints in
world athletics, and in the world’s music industry, but also as a centre, not a
backup for the movie industry.”
Another
major plus is that the Caribbean control a not too insignificant part of the
world’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity for the pharmaceutical and food
industries.
“The
main recommendation for the States of the Region is for them to see a big
picture – the region as a unit to deal with the world – not as fragments to be
exploited by the rest of the world. They must see the Caribbean as a complementary
force for external competition and not as parts for internal competition”, said
Patterson.
He
declared that the time had come to enter a new frontier to secure the region’s
full share of an area of soaring global growth, “the Knowledge Economy” – which
he described as a niche anchored by cultural heritage, creativity, innovation
and superb talents spanning the range of arts, music, sports, animation, festivals,
food, wellness and the hospitality trade.
The 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum
was held under the theme “Making
Connections, Building business, Increasing Trade and Investment” was organised
in collaboration with the ACP Business Climate facility (BizClim).
The ACP Business Climate Facility (BizClim) is a programme of the ACP
Secretariat financed by the European Union under the 10th European Development
Fund (EDF).
It seeks to foster a business enabling environment
for the Private Sector in ACP countries and regions by improving legislation,
institutional frameworks and financial measures.
Mark Thomas and Clinton Pickering
reporting from Montego Bay
