Consultations with key stakeholders have begun across the Region to finalise the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy in time for approval by Ministers of Trade later this year.

Suriname, which holds responsibility for the Industrial Policy in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, is spearheading work towards its completion to present it to a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in October 2025. The work to be carried out in time for that meeting includes deeper engagements with key stakeholders in the business community.

(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) - The recently concluded Sixtieth (60th) Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) marked significant progress in advancing measures for enhanced economic integration, competitiveness, and strategies for addressing bilateral and multilateral trade issues.

Colleagues Ministers, Excellencies, Heads of Delegations, representatives of regional institutions, it is my pleasure to welcome you today to this the 60th COTED Meeting.

I want to begin by thanking the Secretary-General and CARICOM Secretariat as a whole, for the excellent arrangements in place for us to gather here at the Secretariat and virtually.

(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) - The Sixtieth (60^th) Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) is scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana, 10-11 June, under the chairmanship of the Hon. Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados.

The CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett and the COTED Chair will deliver remarks at the opening session of the Meeting.

Senator the Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment of St. Kitts and Nevis, lauded the CARICOM Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Framework as significant, directional, and instructional.