Collaboration is key
IT is imperative, in the post-COVID reality, that countries in the Caribbean continue to work together for the future economic sustainability of the region.
That’s the view of the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, Malgorzata Wasilewska. She made the point while delivering remarks during the recently held virtual launch of the Barbados Port Community System (PCS) Project, which is funded by the Barbados Port Inc. in collaboration with the CARIFORUM/European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility Project.
According to Ambassador Wasilewska, collaboration is key as we try to navigate these uncharted global economic waters where greater emphasis must be placed on increased digitalisation and efficient global supply chains in goods and services that meet the highest standards possible.
Earlier she referred to the PCS project, noting that its establishment is expected to increase efficiency and transparency in the trading and clearance of goods as a result of reduced clearance times, lower compliance costs and improved document workflow through digitalisation.
“The PCS will provide seamless automation in the local trade facilitation process and these combined improvements will ultimately see Barbados move closer towards world-class standards in port operations with enhanced logistics efficiency, trade competitiveness, and improvements in the ease of doing business,” she stated.
Her comments came as she said the project falls in line with a series of projects being supported by the Standby Facility, which is funded by the European Union and managed by the Caribbean Development Bank. She explained that the standby facilities were created to support member states in the region in the effective implementation of the EPA and CSME and they address the various impediments to trade that may be unique to each country.
With that in mind, she said more has to be done for the region to fully capitalise on the EPA and to advance on the implementation of the CSME. She added that it is for this reason, the EU continues to focus and provide support at the national and regional levels for the implementation of both the EPA and the CSME.
“The standby facility forms part of a wider programme of support under the European Union’s 21 million euro grant for the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement, which also includes support to the Caribbean in five other areas – innovation and intellectual property rights; technical barriers to trade; sanitary and phytosanitary measures; capacity building in the areas of competition, public procurement and customs; and trade facilitation. The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the integration of CARIFORUM into the worldwide economy and the effective operation of the EPA,” she stated.
Moreover, she indicated that the EU has also contributed 30 million euros to assist in strengthening the CSME integration and co-operation process. She said that under that programme, they are supporting two key objectives – improving the institutional regulatory and financial environment relevant to the consolidation of the CSME and improving the effectiveness in use and management of technology statistics and knowledge relevant to the CSME.
It is in that regard that she highlighted the importance of countries working closer together if they are to survive and thrive in the post-COVID environment. (JRT)