Trade and integration officials from member countries of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), gather in Georgetown, Guyana, next week for talks on economic and cooperation relations among Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico.

The Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat is geared at placing at the forefront, the importance of trade, investment and cooperation relations of Mexico, with Central American and Caribbean countries.

The organisers said that the main objective of the meeting is to analyse the network of cooperation, economic and trade agreements in the region covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; possibilities for their coordination and convergence; and the existing or potential mechanisms to promote and diversify economic and trade relations.

CARICOM and Central American countries share mutual business interests and have signed several trade agreements. Those agreements may be connected with the single Free Trade Area (FTA) established between Mexico and Central America to take advantage of the geographical proximity and potential market in goods and services.

The meeting is also expected to attract representation from regional and sub-regional integration schemes, regional and international organisations, and experts in the field.

The opening ceremony on Wednesday 15 June will feature remarks by Hon. Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Business, Guyana, Mr. Javier Gordon Ruiz, Director, Relations for Integration and Cooperation, Permanent Secretariat of SELA, and Mr. Joseph Cox, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration.