Ambassador Parsan addresses the 37th Annual Conference on Central America and the Caribbean
Washington, DC – More than 200 persons participated in the 37th Annual Conference on the Caribbean and Central America, held at the US Chamber of Commerce and the Organization of American States (OAS).
The Conference was hosted by Washington, DC based non-profit Caribbean Central America Action.
His Excellency Dr. Neil Parsan, Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the US participated as a key panelist in the discussion on “Advancing a Shared Regional Agenda.”
The panel discussion was moderated by Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, Albert Ramdin and also featured Ms. Carmen Gisela Vergara, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), Mr. Nicholas Galt, President of the TSL Group and Mr. Juan Antonio Busto, Past President of the Federation of Industrial Chambers and Associations of Central America and the Dominican Republic (FECAICA).
In addressing the issue of looking outside of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for trading partners, Ambassador Parsan mentioned that being an energy based economy, Trinidad and Tobago as part of its diversification strategy of its economy, diversification of its trading partners is also important. He also explained with the evolution of shale gas as part of the energy mix in the USA and the potential opportunities arising out of an expanded Panama Canal, the Central American and Caribbean regions should lend thought to tactical cooperation in the area of trade and energy.
Ambassador Parsan also touched on the increasing need for harmonization of the regulatory environment in both Central America and the Caribbean to reduce the time that it takes to do business in both regions. He argued that cross-border arrangements should be used to deepen co-operation between both regions.
Additionally, His Excellency emphasized the role of the private sector in facilitating growth and development in Central America and the Caribbean and expressed hope that the prevailing challenges in both regions – poor infrastructure, weak institutions, etc – would be improved.
The Conference also featured discussions on, inter alia, attracting investment finance to the Caribbean and Central America, Europe in the Americas and transportation infrastructure in both regions.
