(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The CARICOM Secretariat will convene the First Joint Meeting of National CSME Focal Points and National Coordinators of the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP) on 20 - 21 July 2009.

The Meeting is made possible through the assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as part of the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP) and the European Union.

The goal of the CTCP is the provision of increased and improved opportunities for CARICOM nationals to participate in and benefit from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

Under the CTCP activities such as regulatory and administrative reforms and related actions which are required at the national governmental level will be undertaken, plus activities to generate increased public participation. The programme also covers Gender and the Environment.

In addition to discussions related to the CTCP, participants will also receive updates on other CARICOM projects assisted by the European Union under the 9th European Development Fund, Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP) and the Inter American Development Bank. Participants at the Meeting will discuss these projects as well as their impact on the CSME Agenda and their role in facilitating the implementation of the CSME.

The participants are from all CSME participating Member States. The meeting will be held at the Accra Beach Hotel & Resort, Rockley, Christ Church, Barbados.