January 31, 2025
The regional Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Unit is conducting a week-long capacity building programme for The Bahamas’ Director of Trade and Industry, Ms. Brichell Pinder, as part of its ongoing support to Member States to implement the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM)-European Union (EU) EPA.
Ms. Pinder is participating in the National EPA Coordinator Attachment Programme from January 27-31, organised by the CARIFORUM Directorate within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.
During the week-long attachment, the official will learn about the operations of the EPA Implementation Unit and will engage with the Director-General and specialists in Trade in Goods, Investment and Trade in Services and EPA Development Cooperation. Additionally, she will interact with officials from the Directorates of Foreign and Community Relations; Economic Integration, Innovation and Development; and Human and Social Development of the CARICOM Secretariat to understand their roles in regional integration.
This initiative, funded by the 11th European Development Fund Technical Cooperation Facility, aims to enhance Member States’ capacity to effectively implement the EPA and leverage CARIFORUM’s trade relationship with the European Union.
Since its inception in 2024, trade officials from St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname and Guyana have participated in this programme. Through this attachment, it is hoped that EPA Coordinators will gain exposure to different EPA implementation structures, work plans, challenges, consultative processes, and practices and exchange information on national implementation actions and challenges and explore ways to address these challenges.
It is also anticipated that they will identify methods to advance EPA implementation, build networks and connections for future collaboration and acquire new insights into problem-solving to enhance EPA implementation.
—
Caption for main image:
Director of Trade and Industry, The Bahamas, Brichell Pinder (right) in an exchange with Specialist, Trade in Services and Investment, EPA Implementation Unit, Akil Yearwood.
About The CARIFORUM-EU EPA:
The EPA between CARIFORUM States and the EU and its Member States was signed on October 15, 2008. It aims to liberalise trade between 15 CARIFORUM States and 27 EU countries on a reciprocal but asymmetrical basis. This comprehensive trade and development agreement covers:
- Market Access for Industrial and Agricultural products;
- Services and Investment;
- Trade-related issues such as competition policy, the environment, transparency in government procurement, innovation and intellectual property, social aspects, and personal data protection;
- Development cooperation;
- Legal and institutional issues.