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One of the
top officials of the Organisation of American States (OAS) has urged
businessmen in Florida to cash in on trade with Caribbean countries and
suggested that the state form a united agenda on doing business with
the region.
Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin told them that
the region's trading arrangements offer prospects for expanded market
for their products and services.
"Tourism, health services, value-added agriculture, high-tech
services, financial services; energy products, and cultural items for
the large Caribbean Diaspora represent key sectors for development in
the Caribbean," he told the business leaders. "Eco-tourism and cultural
tourism are on the rise; agriculture is being expanded for high-value
products such as cacao, coffee, limes, mangoes and coconuts for
export."
Describing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as the most successful
integration system after the European Union, he highlighted the Single
Market as an avenue to enhance business promotion and entrepreneurship.
He said the Caribbean Court of Justice as CARICOM's highest court of
appeal "is another significant step in providing judicial certainty to
individuals, business community and nations."
"It is not only in the interest of the Caribbean, but also in your
own interest," Ramdin said in his keynote address to the second annual
meeting of the World Affairs Council and the World Trade Center of
Tampa Bay, Florida.
"For the State of Florida in general, and for Tampa in particular,
given the proximity to the Caribbean, it is important to strengthen
political and economic relations and to work towards a comprehensive
agenda of collaboration, not only in trade, but also in culture,
education, and other areas," he added.
"There are opportunities, but if these are not used or if the
relationship deteriorates because of economic problems, there will also
be risk."
In addition to proximity, the OAS Assistant Secretary General said
the Caribbean region offers potential Florida investors advantages of
language, comparable legal systems and relative peace.
He said that overall, the investment climate is generally an inviting one.
"Taking advantage of these could be a good win-win for Tampa and the
Caribbean in bringing home the advantages of an integrated market with
commercial links and new personal relationships on which to build a
long-term, stable market," said Ambassador Ramdin.
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