In a brief ceremony held at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, last Thursday (4th September), the Secretary General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington received on behalf of the people of the Community a Plaque to mark the distinction of co-operation between the Region, and Japan’s External Trade Organisation. (JETRO).

CARICOM was singled out as the only organization to receive this award in 2003. In receiving the Award, Secretary General noted that the process of co-operation between JETRO and the Community has been manifested in a number of ways, specifically through Meetings, conventions, ambassadorial assignments, and diplomatic missions. He described the juncture as a “happy occasion, which signaled that the stage of co-operation had reached a level of maturity”.

“I can say that this Award is truly for the achievement of the staff of the Secretariat and to the people of the Community”, the Secretary General added.

In presenting the Award, H.E. Takatomo Tozuka, Director General of JETRO expressed hope for continued co-operation with the Region and thanked the CARICOM Secretariat for their support for JETRO’s activities.

JETRO presents annual awards to a select number of individuals, companies and organizations for their contribution to the work of the organization.

Since the relationship between CARICOM and JETRO began, the Region has already been involved in two major JETRO initiatives in Tokyo, a Caribbean Exhibition held in November 2002 meant to attract Japanese consumers to Caribbean products and Food-Ex held in February 2003 where 5 Caribbean companies participated.