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06/09/2004

Remarks by

Karen D. Turner

Mission Director

United States Agency for International Development, Jamaica-Caribbean

at the

Signing Ceremony of the USAID-UWI Grant Agreement

for the Masters Program in International Trade Policy

Tuesday June 8th

The University of the West Indies

Cave Hill Campus

Professor Frank Beckles, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor Christine Barrow, Deputy Principal, the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus; members of the media, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Good Afternoon.

I am very pleased to be here today at the launch of this Masters Program in Trade. First of all, I would like to congratulate our partners at CARANA and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, for taking this lead role in assisting the region reposition itself in important trade negotiations, by setting up this Masters in International (MIT) program.

The United States Government, through USAID, is pleased to provide funding amounting to US $400,000 for this program, through our Caribbean Trade and Competitiveness Development Program (C-TRADECOM).

The Caribbean is currently grappling with the challenges of a global economy. Succeeding in the new economy requires more than sufficient venture capital and shrewd entrepreneurs. It demands a strategic partnership of the private sector, the universities and governments of the region. It also demands investments in one of the most important resources in the region … the people.

We at the United States Mission, welcome the opportunity to help deepen and strengthen trade policy expertise of professionals engaged in the give-and-take of trade negotiations, and implementation of trade commitments – as we believe that this is an integral part of strengthening economic growth in the region.

The objectives of this program are to train persons in a short and effective time as possible without sacrificing the quality of the content, and provide essential trained bodies to relevant government ministries and the private sector. I want to highlight that the program is time effective, direct and perhaps just as important, cost effective. In this increasingly globalized world, where a number of international trade agreements have come to the fore, and where the region is introducing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), there is a great need for the critical players, and those working behind the scenes, to fully understand the trade agenda, including the requirements of the WTO, FTAA and ACP/EU process.

When we consider that the majority of the region's private and public sectors do not currently have a regional curriculum to address this urgent issue, and that in some ministries for example, there are no more than 2-3 persons in a Ministry of Trade to deal with the varied and complex trade issues, the importance of this MIT program becomes quite apparent.

We have all recognized that one of the pervasive developmental challenges across all sectors in the Caribbean is the lack of human resources and the need for increased capacity/training of human resources, especially in the countries of the OECS. This need was also highlighted last year by the Permanent Secretaries from the region at a meeting of the FTAA's Hemispheric Cooperation Program in Washington, when these leaders gathered to present national trade capacity buildings strategies.

We are therefore heartened that the program will be 9 months in-class and 6 months practical attachments/on-the-job training as we believe that a purely academic program would not be very useful to a region which needs the skills urgently.

We are also happy that the program is being done in a modular format and this will enable the University to draw on the widest possible group of trainers including trade policy specialists, practitioners and academics. The modular format also allows participants to plan their training schedule and allows for shorter duration training leading to certificate or diploma programs for those not taking the Masters.

I am looking forward to hearing great things about the program and to seeing the results as the region forges ahead in the trading arenas.

This programme that we are launching here today is part of a wider effort by the U.S. Government to work with the region to respond to the challenges of reshaping their economies to participate in trade liberalization. We are for example, working with the Government of Barbados to strengthen CARICOM's Regional Negotiating Machinery to effectively participate in negotiations on the development of trade regimes that are compatible with growth in the region and FTAA and WTO requirements.

In addition, USAID has been working with the OECS Secretariat's Export Development Unit (EDU) to provide technical assistance and training to improve the production and competitiveness of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises in the region.

We are also working in partnership with the IMF, the World Bank, IDB, and other donors through CARTAC to provide technical assistance and training in fiscal, monetary, financial and related statistical areas to countries of the region.

And under the C-TRADECOM project, under which this activity falls, we are focusing on working with public and private sector partners, in coordination with other donor organizations to develop and implement more than 30 projects to improve trade and competitiveness in the region.

These projects include (just to mention a few):

•  Development of training materials and training programming for immigration officials to facilitate free movement of people within the region;

•  Open and honest examination of trade issues and concerns through region-wide civil society forums;

•  Analysis and reduction of constraints to doing business, particularly in the OECS states; and,

•  Enhancement of the capacities of countries in the region to manage production and service standards to meet the demands of global markets.

In going forward, we would urge the evolution of the program using other means of delivery including distance learning as this would greatly enhance the reach of the program to the region. We also urge collaboration on an ongoing basis between the faculty, the Regional Negotiating Machinery and the private sector as it is the private sector that must take the lead in trade negotiations and help facilitate the process of economic growth for the region.

USAID is proud to stand as a partner with you in this process and we commit to continued partnership with you as you make your journey on the path of sustainable development.

Thank you.