The Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) has established a virtual area dedicated to the private sector to increase information dissemination across the region and provide a resource for private sector activities in trade. The site is intended to archive documents from recent industry association meetings, consultations and public presentations involving OTN participation, such as the Creative Industries workshop in Trinidad, a workshop for Surinamese manufacturers, a poultry association workshop in Belize, and several others.

LETTER TO THE CARIBBEAN PRIVATE SECTOR FROM AMBASSADOR GAIL MATHURIN, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OFFICE OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS (OTN)

Dear Private Sector colleagues

I am writing you this special letter as part of an outreach initiative by the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) to increase dialogue with the private sector and invite greater participation by its various constituents in the region’s external trade negotiations.

As you are well aware, our Caribbean is at a critical juncture in its history. Under the increasing influence of globalization, our economies are making a fundamental transition from old protectionist arrangements to a liberalized, highly competitive economic and trade environment.

The challenge we face as a region is determining how best we can work together to safeguard our gains and capitalize on new opportunities to build prosperity for the future.  As the Caribbean’s chief representative in the various negotiations currently underway at the global hemispheric, and regional levels, the OTN is always mindful of this responsibility.

As the private sector is the undisputed engine of economic growth and main actor in the field of trade, whatever agreements our governments achieve will ultimately have a direct impact on their operations. It is for this reason that I am taking the opportunity to invite more private sector input in shaping our negotiating positions and influencing the content of final agreements.

Several business persons have been pro-active and have continuously shared their views with the OTN. We thank them for their keen interest. However, greater involvement is needed if we are to present positions which are truly reflective of the concerns, needs and aspirations of the region’s private sector.

The OTN has stepped up its outreach activities. We invite your attendance at OTN trade seminars. We also look forward to your feedback about our information products, including the monthly Private Sector Brief which is distributed by email and our weekly radio programme dealing exclusively with trade issues.

To find more about what we are doing, feel free to call our offices at anytime or, better yet, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if it is more convenient. We at the OTN look forward to working more closely with you to build a prosperous future for our beautiful region.

Sincerely yours,
……………………………………….
Ambassador Gail Mathurin