A workshop on Economic Integration and Free Trade: Challenges and Responses Chilean and CARICOM Perspective, a joint initiative of the University of the West Indies Latin American-Caribbean Centre (LACC) in Jamaica and the Government of Chile through its Agency for International Cooperation (AGCI), will be held at the Institute of International Relations on the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, 4-6 February 1998.

The Workshop is being coordinated within the framework of the Chile-CARICOM Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement. It aims to bring together some 30-35 Caribbean Middle to high-ranking public officials and private sector representatives for three days of dialogue, exchange of views and presentations by a number of Chilean and Caribbean academics and international functionaries. The focus will be on the changing global political and economy environment, and the restructuring of hemispheric economic relations.

It is intended to be a briefing session on the forthcoming crucial negotiations on European-Caribbean post-Lomé relations and moves towards the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas and the deepening regionalisation of Latin American and Caribbean trade flows. It will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views and experiences among Caribbean and Chilean participants on issues such as private sector involvement in the development of MERCOSUR and the Association of Caribbean States, and on the preparations for the next Summit of the Americas, scheduled to be held in April 1998 in Santiago Chile.

Interested persons should contact the Latin American-Caribbean Centre at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Telephone number 876 927 2831/977 6349; Fax 876 977 3494 or Institute of International Relations, UWI, St. Augustine, Telephone 868 662-5314 Fax 809 663 9685.