The hosting of the Caribbean week helps to link Agriculture with the Hospitality Industry since over 200 foreign delegates usually participate in the meetings throughout the week.  The expectations are that St. Vincent and the Grenadines will benefit from the exposure and the Hotels will get a boost in the slow season, October, 2008.

Background:

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture is an initiative of IICA which creates the opportunity for Ministers of Agriculture within Caricom to meet annually under the framework of the Alliance for Agriculture and the Rural Milieu.

This meeting is held annually during the first week of October and is rotated by country.  The 2007 Minister of Agriculture Alliance meeting was held in Kingston, Jamaica where all Agricultural institution (Regional and International) were represented.  The total participation was estimated at 200 persons.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will host the next Ministers of Agriculture Alliance meeting in 2008.

Objectives:

• To provide an environment that would allow for dialogue on Agriculture and investment possibilities.

• To twin the Caribbean week of Agriculture with the National Agriculture and Agro-based Industrial Exhibition.

• To create opportunities for the marketing of Agricultural Commodities.

• To display initiatives used in the transformation of the Agricultural sector into a modern competitive one.

Theme:

Transforming the Agricultural Sector through Value Addition

Timeframe:

Monday 6th to Friday 10th October, 2008