Competitiveness and Small & Medium Enterprises on Miami Conference Agenda

Washington, D.C.–Caribbean-Central American Action (CCAA) announced today that it will host roundtables at the upcoming Miami Conference on competitiveness and the sustainability of small and medium sized businesses in the region. CCAA’s 30th Annual Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin is a premier event for leaders in the region and attracts private and public sector officials from around the hemisphere. The 30th Annual Conference is scheduled to take place at the Intercontinental Hotel from December 4 to December 6, 2006.

This year’s competitiveness session will seek to examine why the rate of growth in the Caribbean Basin has not kept pace with other regions that have shared historical levels of productivity and market focus. Notably the session will address whether preferential trade agreements that the region has long enjoyed have been enough of a catalyst for long term economic development and what proven policies exist that, if implemented would increase productivity and competitiveness of Caribbean Basin economies.

The session on Small and Medium Enterprises will focus on how this economically important yet highly vulnerable sector can continue to strive in the face of uncertain market trends and growing global competition. Discussants will explore policy options required to stimulate growth of the entrepreneurial business class as well as opportunities to leverage technology, innovation and best practices in order to amplify the market share of business from the region.

This Conference is an important milestone for CCAA as we celebrate 30 years of involvement in the economic development of the Caribbean Basin through advocacy, partnerships, and alliances with the public and private sectors in the region. The Conference will address the effectiveness of CAFTA-DR and the Caribbean Single Market Economy, the impact of energy and regional competitiveness, the effects of the Western Hemisphere Passport Initiative, and the role of Asia and Europe on the region.

Confirmed heads of state include President Enrique Bolaños of the Republic of Nicaragua, Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados, and Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller of Jamaica. Other confirmed speakers include Luis Alberto Moreno, President, Inter-American Development Bank; Adolfo Franco, Assistant Administrator, USAID; Compton Bourne, President, Caribbean Development Bank; Harry Brautigam, President, Central American Bank for Economic Integration; Robert Mosbacher, President, Overseas Private Investment Corporation; Thelma Askey, Administrator, U. S. Trade & Development Agency; Albert Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General, Organization of American States; and Manuel Rosales, Assistant Administrator the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration.

Sponsors include Scotiabank, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Inter-American Development Bank, Tropical Shipping, Enterprise Florida, Florida FTAA, PriceSmart, Seaboard Marine, SOGENER, Taipei Economic & Cultural Office, Angostura, Bladex, FedEx Express, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Port of Miami, Rums of Barbados, Rums of Puerto Rico, Santa Lucia Estate Coffee, Super Clubs, Greenberg Traurig and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLC.

CCAA is a non-governmental organization that promotes private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin. More information on the organization and the Annual Miami Conference can be found by visiting CCAA's website at www.c-caa.org.

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