GUYANA – Member States of the Caribbean Forum of the African Caribbean Pacific grouping (CARIFORUM) are set to benefit from a very significant project funded by the European Union (EU).
The Caribbean Integration Support Programme, is expected to be approved in October 2006. This €40,500,000 project under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) is designed to assist the integration of the Caribbean Region into the world economy, through a global repositioning aimed at achieving sustainable growth, regional cohesion and stability, and continued improvements in living conditions.
The main elements of the project include the establishment and consolidation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); improved external trade negotiating capacities and improved and harmonized production of statistical data at national and regional levels in CARICOM as well as improved macro-economic management through enhancement of the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC)
Other elements are the establishment and operation of the CARICOM Institute of Translation and the Caribbean Information Society; reduction of the supply and demand for illegal drugs; implementation of Phase 11 of the Ogle Airport Development in Guyana and enhancement of the capacity of the CARICOM Secretariat to co-ordinate regional programmes effectively and in financial management.
Also benefiting from the EDF is the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery with a 770,000 euro grant to develop and enhance CARIFORUM capacity to prepare for, participation in and undertake external trade and economic negotiations particularly in respect of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union and to derive maximum benefits for the region from those negotiations. One significant aspect of this funding is the strengthening the statistics capability in trade –in-services.
The EDF has also contributed €2,600,000 to Phase I of the Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme. The Executing Agencies for these funds are the Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States/Export Development Unit (OECS) (EDU) based in Saint Lucia.
The objective of this project is to contribute to the gradual integration of CARIFORUM countries into the world economy and in the turn to enhance regional economic growth.
One of the principal beneficiaries of the EDF is the Caribbean Rum Sector through its institutional representative the West Indies Rum and Spirits Association (WIRSPA). The Association received €70,000,000 in funds to assist its members in improving plant efficiency, complying with environmental and waste management regulations and standards as well as distribution and marketing. The funds also helped the Association to deliver financial and technical assistance to individual distillers and brand owners as well as to gain access to markets.
The EDF is also lending support to increase the Competitiveness of the Rice Sector in the Caribbean. The Guyana-based Caribbean Rice Association is supervising a €24,000,000 project aimed at increasing the efficiency and sustainability of the rice industry in Guyana and Suriname.
The funds will aid in the development of National Rice Policy and Strategy Actions Plans by both Governments as well as encourage producers, millers and exporters into effective and sustainable associations. There is provision for the improvement of Water Management, the training of performing millers in milling operations and maintenance and assistance to millers in financial and business plans.
The private sector is also catered for with provision for identification and implementation of research activities oriented to the private sector as well as working capital.
At the end of the project it is expected that there would be proper coordination and monitoring of programme activities, an expansion of markets through commercial research, promotion and exchanges and integration and dissemination of marketing information and intelligence.
The administration of all these projects has also been funded by the EU under the CARIFORUM Technical Cooperation Facility.
A sum of €1,999,000 has been provided for the CARIFORUM Secretariat to identify, prepare and formulate programmes to be financed by the EDF and the Regional Authorising Office (RAO) will be enabled to maintain satisfactory monitoring of and tendering procedures for ongoing projects. These funds will also enable audits and evaluations of other projects to be financed.
