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The commitments undertaken by the EU under the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), represents a potentially wide market for CARIFORUM services suppliers. 

The CARIFORUM Directorate, in embarking upon initiatives, in accordance with its work programme for 2019-2020, to enhance awareness and knowledge of the market access opportunities available to regional services suppliers under the EPA, is seeking to address the dearth in capacity in CARIFORUM states through the organisation of in-country consultations. 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as Chair of CARIFORM-EU, will host a series of consultations over a 4-day period from 10th to 13th September, 2019 at the Beachcombers Hotel Conference Room.

The consultations in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will cover the following:

• 10th September -  Second CARIFORUM-EU Meeting on Trade in Services (resumption);
• 11th -12th September - Second CARIFORUM Meeting on the Development of a Mutual Recognition Agreement for Architectural Services; and
• 13th September -  Services seminar Converting Market Access into Market Presence under the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

The objectives of the consultations are to sensitize public officials and key services suppliers on the opportunities available under the services and investment provisions of the EPA, while addressing the challenges and proposed approaches to them.

The targeting of private officials stems from the need to build capacity among the stakeholders. With their enhanced capacity, the stakeholders in turn would be better equipped to engage in discussions on the critical issues impacting on the services sector, and leverage the benefits available under the Agreement. The consultation on Friday will therefore examine the market access opportunities for CARIFORUM businesses looking to enter the European Union market.

SOURCE: API