Overview

CCAA is proud to celebrate its 30th Anniversary Miami Conference. This year will focus special attention on energy and its impact on the region’s competitiveness. Can the small economies of the Caribbean Basin effectively compete in a global economy? What is the nature of our commercial relationships with Europe and Asia, especially the role of China? Other important regional issues include assessing the effect of recent US legislation including the Western Hemisphere Passport Initiative and most importantly, the Caribbean’s willingness to enter into a bilateral agreement with the United States considering the stalled FTAA negotiations.

With CAFTA–DR completed and the Caribbean Single Market (CSM) in place, the conference will allow for frank assessments of whether these agreements have and will truly result in economic growth and employment for the region. Will the Caribbean be able to effectively integrate and create a truly single market space that allows for increased regional and foreign direct investment? Is CAFTA-DR delivering on its promise or is there significant work left to be done to make Central American economies competitive?

For the past 30 years, the Miami Conference has served as the only forum that focuses solely on the small economies of the Caribbean islands and Central American isthmus, the “CBI” beneficiary countries that make up the Third Border. The conference continues to unite leaders from the public sector, the business community and civil society together in a constructive open dialogue to address issues affecting the region and its economic prospects.

The conference combines major addresses by political leaders with morning workshops on public policy issues such as competitiveness, maritime security, disaster preparedness, and corporate social responsibility. Afternoon industry sector roundtables give participants the opportunity to participate in a series of interactive discussions with subject-matter experts from the United States, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and Central America on issues vital to the agribusiness, apparel, energy, financial services, telecommunications, transportation, and tourism industry sectors.

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