The
Caribbean region is promoted to become more and more important in economic
cooperation in comparison to burning economic region in the world like ASIA or
Europe, where international business relations and integration are moving. Usually
known as a place for small-sized countries economically insignificant, the Caribbean
concept have been reviewed and developed to a broader perspective since the
ACS, Association of Caribbean States has been created in 1994 along the existing
Caribbean common market (CARICOM) and other Latin America economic grouping.
The ACS encompasses major countries in the Americas from Central America, the
classic Caribbean, some part of South America or Andean countries, all territories
that share the coastline from the Caribbean Sea. In addition to Central America
countries and CARICOM members, among of them are emerging economies like
Mexico, other major regional economies like Venezuela and Columbia, Cuba and
even France, as associate member on behalf of their local territories. The
organization is intended to promote cooperation in many economic areas such as
trade, transport, tourism but also to strengthen the region capabilities in
terms of infrastructure, weight or importance, protection and the reinforcement
of cultural link.
So
far similar economic cooperation in the world, that has arisen effectively, is
the APEC experience and that of OEDC. APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation clusters countries from around the world like from North America,
Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific region interested in economic
dealings in the Asia- Pacific region. OEDC, the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development, groups countries from a European nucleus zone to include
western and emerging countries. Both cooperation organizations have
successfully achieved important results in bringing cooperation among diverse
members in many areas, such as sustainable economic growth, trade and
investment facilitating.
Then,
one of the major ASC goals is to ease transportation connection by building
facilities through the greater region in different areas such as seas and air
and to diminish trade obstacles between members. The summit that groups state
or government heads demand policymakers to be committed in taking actions
independently to achieve other important shared goals such as disaster
management and risk reduction, joint tourism plan, use of education approach. We
do remind that the Caribbean region is known as a prime touristic destination
in the world during the last ten years
Currently,
the 5th summit was held in Petion-Ville, Haiti this week and all top
leaders, in the targeted zone, attended, including Raul Castro from Cuban
government head. The summit has come out with a supportive claim to end US
embargo against Cuba. Haitian government has seized and seen the opportunity
for hosting the summit and associated meeting to boost a positive view of the weak
country and to bring Haiti back in a more active presence in the regional forum.
So
on the trail of APEC, which has held simultaneously its ministerial assembly
this April in Indonesia, ASC can be expected to become an important economic cooperation
grouping which highlights the Greater Caribbean move.
References
:
ACS(2013). Disponible au: http://www.acs-aec.org/
