(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Representatives of the private sector in Guyana will be updated on the status of work in a number of areas on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) during a consultation convened by the CARICOM Secretariat with support from the Guyana Manufacturers Association (GMA).

The consultation will be held on 26 October at the Hotel Tower in Georgetown. Participants will receive presentations from officials of the CARICOM Secretariat, Caribbean Export, Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). The consultation will be opened by Dr Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Guyana.

The consultation will provide a forum for the private sector representatives to be briefed on areas of the CARICOM Single Market, including the Right of Establishment; the Competition Commission; issues pertaining to the creation of a framework for the CARICOM Single Economy; Free Movement of Skills and export opportunities under the CARICOM Single Market.

In the area of export opportunities, participants will receive guidance on reaping benefits from bilateral trade agreements between the Caribbean Community and a number of third States, namely Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

It is expected also that there will be some discussion on the recently formed Caribbean Business Council.