Bolstering Bilateral Ties: Canada-Caribbean Institute Supports Upcoming Canada-CARICOM Summit

The Canada-Caribbean Institute welcomes the first Canada-CARICOM Summit to be held on Canadian soil from October 17 to 19, 2023.

CARICOM-Canada reciprocal trade is at an all-time high, reaching $1.8 billion in 2022, while bilateral trade in services was $3.9 billion in 2021.  As important trade and development partners, with more than two million Canadians travelling to CARICOM countries annually and over 10,000 students from CARICOM studying in Canada every year, the time is right to strengthen ties and advance shared priorities between the two regions. Therefore, the Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI) is excited to participate in the upcoming Canada-CARICOM Summit discussions on climate change, financing for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean, multilateral cooperation, and regional security to advance the “Canada-CARICOM Roadmap for Action”.

Established in 2020 by founding members, The University of the West Indies (UWI) and Brock University in Canada, the Institute is dedicated to facilitating collaborative academic and research initiatives; faculty, student, and staff exchange programmes; and institutional capacity building in areas of shared interest between Canada and the Caribbean such as socio-economic development, environmental and health promotion, gender studies, and trade and economic policy.

According to CCI’s Co-Chair and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs at The UWI, Sandrea Maynard, “As a strategic partner for a resilient future in Canada-CARICOM relations, the Institute which is dedicated to connecting scholars from across Canada and the Caribbean to collaborate on vital economic, environmental, and social issues, is well placed to advance the agenda of the Summit. As a first step, the CCI will host a Summit De-brief Panel Discussion to provide a deep dive into the outcomes of the Summit as they align to the CCI’s goals and objectives. The CCI also plans to hold regular panel discussions over the next year leading up to the next Research Symposium.”

Among CCI’s pivotal achievements since its establishment is the creation of a platform for capacity-building and mentorship through seminars, teaching, and research; hosting of key events including the “Canada-Caribbean Research Symposium”, the “Revitalising Canada-CARICOM Trade and Investments Seminar” and the “Canada-CARICOM: Shaping an Evolving Partnership for Sustainable Development Forum”. The Institute also provided a critical arena for education and research for policy development on the plight of migrant farm workers in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For further information, visit the: Canada-Caribbean Institute.