Antigua and Barbuda

ITC @ the SIDS4 Conference

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Location info

St John's

Header color
Cyan
Country (for relations)
Geographic priority (for relations)
Event type
Public event

Programme

SIDS Global Business Network Forum
Saturday 25 May 2024
14:00 - 14:30
Opening Session
14:30 - 16:00
Session 1 - Sustainability: Navigating Blue-Green Growth
16:30 - 18:00
Session 2 - Inclusivity: Empowering Local Communities for Transformed Economies
SIDS Global Business Network Forum
Sunday 26 May 2024
10:00 - 10:30
Presentation the SIDS Global Business Network
10:30 - 11:00
Break
11:00 - 12:30
Session 3 – Policy: Crafting an Enabling Business Environment
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 16:00
Session 4 – Funding: Securing Financing and Investment
This session will be moderated by Escipión J. Oliveira-Gómez, Director of the Division of Enterprises Competitiveness and Institutions, ITC
16:00 - 16:15
Break
16:15 - 17:00
High-Level Closing - Summary of Outcomes and High-level Statements
ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton will participate in a High-Level Closing ceremony as a Speaker
09:15 - 10:00
SIDS Gender Equality Forum
Seaside Chat between ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Vice President of Palau and the Vice President for Operations at Caribbean Development Bank
Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)
Monday 27 May 2024
09:00 - 09:30
Cultural Opening
10:00 - 13:00
First plenary meeting & General debate
10 – 11 a.m. - Opening segment
The election of the President of the Conference
Statements by the President of the Conference, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, the Secretary-General of the Conference and a youth representative

Consideration of procedural and organizational matters, including the adoption of the rules of procedure and the agenda, the election of officers, the establishment of a Main Committee, if required, the appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee, arrangements for the preparation of the report of the Conference and other matters.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
General debate
12:00 - 13:30
Room 3, American University of Antigua, Organisers: ITC & Antigua and Barbuda
The importance of data in promoting trade, investment, climate resilience and SME competitiveness policies
Accurate and timely data helps governments and businesses understand market demands, consumer preferences, and emerging trends. This information is crucial for formulating competitive trade strategies, identifying new markets, and aligning products or services with global demand. Therefore, access to reliable trade and investment data is crucial for SIDS governments to formulate and implement targeted policies that foster an environment conducive to SME competitiveness, trade, and attracting investments. Governments, businesses, and policymakers must prioritize data-driven approaches to ensure the resilience and success of their economic initiatives in an increasingly complex and interconnected global landscape. Recognizing the key role of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in fostering SME competitiveness, this Side event will be an exchange of best practices, tools and experiences among partners to map out climate change-related risks and opportunities facing companies whilst identifying further data needs by SIDS. The objective is to enable appropriate policies fostering sustainable development and resilience. The event will feature the launch of the SIDS Trade Tracker and the Agrifood Exports and Climate Change guide for Business Support Organisations (BSOs)
Pamela Coke-Hamilton
Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC)
Rabat Fatima
Under Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
Malcolm Geere
UK’s Development Director in the Caribbean
Honourable Gaston Browne
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Ruisandro Cijntje
Minister of Economic Development at the Government of Curaçao
Pavel Isa Contreras
Minister, Economy, Planning and Development Dominican Republic
Alfredo Da Trindade
Director General Agency for the Promotion of Trade and Investment, Sao Tomé and Principe
Kamal Chetty
Chief Exectuvie Officer Investment Fiji
Escipión J. Oliveira-Gómez
Director of the Division of Enterprises Competitiveness and Institutions, ITC (Session Moderator)
14:00 - 14:30
Opening Press Conference
15:00 - 18:00
Second plenary meeting
General debate
Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)
Tuesday 28 May 2024
09:00 - 13:00
Third plenary meeting (In parallel)
General debate
11:00 - 13:00
Interactive dialogue (Revitalizing SIDS Economies for Accelerated and Sustainable Growth)
15:00 - 18:00
Fourth plenary meeting (In parallel)
General debate
16:00 - 17:30
Room 4, American University of Antigua (AUA), Organisers: European Union & ITC
Enhancing economic resilience through blue-green growth and value-addition in SIDS
SIDS are facing the brunt of multiple crises: climate change, the economic and social repercussions of COVID-19, and a crisis of debt. At the same time, the political commitment to achieving responsible and inclusive social and economic growth while combating climate change and promoting responsible consumption and production has never been greater. Transforming commitment into action is key for SIDS if they are to face their natural vulnerabilities to ecological fragility, proneness to natural disasters, low incomes and high dependency on food imports and overreliance on fossil fuels for energy. Economic, environmental and social resilience can be enhanced for SIDS to overcome vulnerability through increased regional market integration, economic diversification, promotion of greater coordination and cooperation, and evidence-based policies and actions. Focus on improved access to market information, value addition, inclusive finance and investment and promotion of blue and green growth can be catalytic towards sustainable trade and development in SIDS. This Side Event shall explore perspectives of key stakeholders, MSMEs and experts operating in selected value chains across SIDS to assess how market-led partnerships or alliances can lead to enhanced economic resilience through blue-green growth and value addition.
The Hon. Kavydass Ramano
Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mauritius
Pamela Coke-Hamilton
Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC)
Luc Bagur
Sustainable Development Policy and Coordination, Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA), European Union (EU)
Cristelle Pratt
Assistant Secretary General, The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)
Edison Rijna
Special Envoy for the BES islands for EU and UN, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of Netherlands (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties)
Nickie Myers
General Manager, Alligator Head Foundation, Jamaica
Michael Louze
Director, South Sea Commodities, Vanuatu
Sophia Searles
General Manager, Searles Agro Products, St Vincent & the Grenadines
Mari Granström
Founder, Origin by Ocean, Finland
Larry Gardiner
CEO, BabyLove’s C-G Foods, Jamaica
16:00 - 18:00
Interactive dialogue (Enhancing Critical Forms of Financing and Aid Effectiveness through Collaborative Partnerships: A Conversation)
18:00 - 20:00
St John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, Organiser: OHRLLS
SIDS4 Private Sector Roundtable
ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton will participate in a High Level Panel Discussion and speak on the important role of MSMEs in the sustainable development of SIDS and how to strengthen MSME competitiveness. She will also highlight the need for entrepreneurship development within the youth, women and indigenous communities.
Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)
Wednesday 29 May 2024
09:00 - 13:00
Fifth plenary meeting (In parallel)
General debate
11:00 - 13:00
Interactive dialogue (Making Climate Finance Work for SIDS: Building on the Outcomes of UNFCCC COP 28)
15:00 - 18:00
Sixth plenary meeting (In parallel)
General debate
16:00 - 18:00
Interactive dialogue (Levering Data and Digital Technologies and Building Effective Institutions for a Resilient Future in SIDS)
ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke Hamilton will moderate a 20 min fireside chat with: H.E Ms. Minna-Liina Lind, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, H.E. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4)
Thursday 30 May 2024
09:00 - 12:00
Seventh plenary meeting (In parallel)
General debate
11:00 - 13:00
Interactive dialogue (Investing in Human Capital: Addressing Health Crisis in SIDS and Building the Potential of Youth in SIDS)
14:00 - 17:00
Eighth plenary meeting
Closing of the general debate
Closing segment, including reporting on the interactive dialogues, adoption of the outcome document and the report of the Conference
External ID
PE-UE8696
Contextual tags
Overview

<p>At SIDS4, the international community will gather to review SIDS’ sustainable development progress and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to supercharge their path to resilient prosperity. ITC will highlight the key role of small businesses in SIDS in addressing challenges resulting from climate change, COVID-19 and a crisis of debt. Success stories that empower youth, women, indigenous communities, and marginalized groups through agribusiness alliances, tourism and trade shall be showcased through Side events and thematic sessions.</p>

Event (for relations)
The Caribbean: Strengthening sustainable value chains through productive and commercial Alliances
Contact
First name
William
Last name
Castro Rodriguez
Email
wcastro@intracen.org
Body

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p>A quadruple shock of COVID, climate change, conflict, and cost-of-living have pushed the topic of food security and the need for collective action to the top of the global agenda. In the Caribbean, food security is a complex issue influenced by climate change, economic challenges, trade policies, and agricultural practices. Key concerns include the region&apos;s vulnerability to climate events, heavy reliance on food imports, limited agricultural productivity due to infrastructure and technique limitations, the impact of tourism on food security, and health problems tied to dietary patterns and access to nutritious foods.</p><p>In this context, this project aims to support agri-MSMEs, cooperatives and producers (smallholder farmers and fishers) to become more competitive and resilient through value addition, diversification and new market development at the regional level. The overall objective is to contribute to incomes, sustainability &amp; resilience as well as to improve food security, nutrition and healthier diets in the Caribbean region.</p>

Type
Project
Date
-
External ID
C346
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Off
Commonwealth+: Increasing participation of women owned businesses in trade (SheTrades)
Contact
First name
Michelle Ayu Chinta
Last name
Kristy
Email
kristy@intracen.org
Body

Resources

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p>SheTrades Commonwealth + project aims to foster an enabling business ecosystem by promoting inclusive policy and data and engaging business support organizations, private-sector partners, and women-led businesses in the Commonwealth countries. <span>&nbsp;</span>The project will focus on scalability and immediate results by strengthening the functionalities and diversifying services of the SheTrades Initiative globally through SheTrades Outlook and SheTrades Hubs. This project will build upon the previous phase of the SheTrades Commonwealth project that has been ongoing since 2018, over which time sustainable networks of stakeholders at both ecosystem and SME levels have been built and sustained.&nbsp;</p>

Type
Project
Date
-
External ID
C185
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Off
CARIFORUM: UK Trade Partnerships Programme
Contact
First name
Mixtli
Last name
De La Pena Gimenez
Email
delapena@intracen.org
Body

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p><span data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US">The Caribbean is known for great food, music and the arts. ITC through the UK Trade Partnerships Programme is leveraging existing trade partnerships across the region to grow exports in the specialty foods sector and creative industries.&nbsp;</span></p>

Type
Programme
Date
-
External ID
B900
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Off
Conducive policy and regulatory environment: Trade negotiations and policy reform
Contact
First name
Jean-Sebastien
Last name
Roure
Email
roure@intracen.org

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p>The ITC&rsquo;s Supporting Trade Negotiations and Policy Reform Programme seeks to strengthen the capacity of public and private sector stakeholders to contribute to trade negotiations and policy/regulatory formulation on emerging matters relating to facilitating investment, green trade, e-commerce/digitalization, inclusive trade, sustainable and resilient value chains, industrialization plans, strengthened multilateral and regional integration, and other trade and investment policy issues identified as relevant for a conducive business environment.</p><p>Through this project, ITC will, in relation to the topics mentioned above, seek to (a) generate awareness/understanding of stakeholders through information-sharing/awareness-raising engagements; (b) capacitate stakeholders to engage in informed and inclusive trade and investment policy and regulatory reforms; and (c) support domestic trade and investment policy reforms through technical studies/analyses and related advisory support to facilitate implementation of reforms, including undertaking legislative/regulatory reforms.</p><p>In designing and implementing such support, ITC builds upon the multilateral and regional/bilateral trading frameworks in place to ensure there is a coherent and coordinated approach to domestic trade and investment policy reforms and that measures implemented are aligned with trade commitments undertaken and/or international best practices in this regard.</p><p>The activities implemented under this project will be based on requests received from countries/institutions.<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a href="#_msocom_1" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_1"></a><a href="#_msocom_2" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_2"></a><!--[endif]--></p><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><a href="#_msoanchor_1"></a>

Type
Project
Date
-
External ID
C128
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Off
Trade Intelligence: UK Trade Partnerships Programme
Contact
First name
Mathieu
Last name
Loridan
Email
loridan@intracen.org

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p><span data-contrast="none">ITC&rsquo;s trade and market intelligence interventions in the 24 UK Trade Partnerships Programme countries will consist of several interrelated components</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">to foster transparency and &nbsp;enhanced access</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;to information on trade opportunities and market access requirements <span data-contrast="none">for small and medium</span><span data-contrast="none">-</span><span data-contrast="none">sized e</span><span data-contrast="none">nterprises</span></span><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US">. This will be done</span><span data-contrast="none">&nbsp;through</span><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;data</span><span data-contrast="none"> sharing, capacity building, and</span><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;the</span><span data-contrast="none"> setting up of&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US">trade&nbsp;</span><span data-contrast="none">obstacle alert mechanisms.</span></p>

Type
Programme
Date
-
External ID
B906
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On
GreenToCompete Hubs
Contact
First name
Simon
Last name
Balfe

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The ITC T4SD Hubs act as a <strong>one-stop shop offering integrated sustainability solutions supporting SMEs to transition to a green economy</strong>. The T4SD Hubs are a 5 year project implemented in 7 countries/regions: the Caribbean, Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Nepal, Peru and Viet Nam.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The offering of the T4SD Hubs is structured around 5 thematic areas under which awareness raising workshops, e-learnings and customized coaching programmes are offered to <strong>build the business case for implementing sustainable business practices:&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">These thematic areas include:</span></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Compliance with Voluntary Sustainability Standards&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Resource efficiency and circular production&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Climate resilience&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Positioning sustainable products in the international market&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Access to green finance&nbsp;</span></li></ul><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Besides the piloting of the service offering to built the necessary technical capacity, the T4SD Hub team supports the T4SD Hub hosts in building the needed management capacity and structures to roll out the service offering.</span></p>

Type
Project
Date
-
External ID
B694
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Off
Caribbean: Development of value added products and intra-regional trade to enhance livelihoods from coconuts II
Contact
First name
William
Last name
Castro Rodriguez
Email
wcastro@intracen.org
Body

Context

Boosting the Caribbean’s coconut sector from farm to fork 

 

ITC’s Alliances for Action, together with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and partners, has been working since 2015 to mobilize investment, revive the food growing industry, boost the incomes of small-scale farmers and processors in the region.  

We began with the coconut sector, bringing in needed investment, ramping up the farmers’ productive and commercial capacities, and increasing small firms’ competitiveness. Farmers have learned new crops and are now intercropping with other foods, such as bananas. 

Coconut farmers, small firms and the region at large have also become economically stronger by tapping into local, regional and international markets. This has boosted their resilience to climate change, diversified their income and will help them survive the economic shock if a single product collapses. 

Our current project phase replicates this model across the Caribbean where we will continue to emphasize public and private partnerships from ‘farm to fork’: from growing to processing, to marketing and market access. 

Reviving the coconut industry will increase food availability and the incomes of small-scale farmers and processing firms.
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Learning a new crop is a challenge. I like the idea of being part of a community – where we can get the information we need and help each other be better at what we do.
Learning a new crop is a challenge. I like the idea of being part of a community – where we can get the information we need and help each other be better at what we do.
Jenny Banelino
A Dominican family farming organization that produces bananas and intercrops with coconuts and other commodities for crop and income resilience.
A Dominican family farming organization that produces bananas and intercrops with coconuts and other commodities for crop and income resilience.
Post-COVID, the government is encouraging people to buy from local farmers, to both avoid waste and stop the local economy from collapsing. People are also realizing that what we need to do for resilience is to make our country food secure and see how farmers can get the most out of their acreage with crop diversity.
Post-COVID, the government is encouraging people to buy from local farmers, to both avoid waste and stop the local economy from collapsing. People are also realizing that what we need to do for resilience is to make our country food secure and see how farmers can get the most out of their acreage with crop diversity.
Dr. Wayne Myrie
Coconut Industry Board
The Coconut Industry Board in Jamaica is responsible for monitoring and informing the Government of Jamaica of the state of the coconut industry,advising growers of agronomic best practices and providing quality planting materials.
The Coconut Industry Board in Jamaica is responsible for monitoring and informing the Government of Jamaica of the state of the coconut industry,advising growers of agronomic best practices and providing quality planting materials.

Videos

Resources

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

<p>The overall objective of the Action (Alliances for Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean Phase II) is to enhance competitiveness of small-scale farmers in coconut value chains through more sustainable production and commercialization performance and better local, regional, and global markets integration. This involves the implementation of an integrated and coordinated approach that results in enhanced competitiveness and resilience for the farmers, MSMEs and VC operators involved in coconut and associated crops value chains.</p><p align="JUSTIFY" dir="LTR">The proposal takes into consideration the outcomes, lessons learned and experiences gained during the implementation of phase I and aims to consolidate and increase its impact, scale, scope and sustainability. Following ITC&rsquo;s participatory process, phase II project proposal was officially endorsed by the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and by the CARIFORUM Directorate.</p>

Type
Project
Projects
Ghana: Developing cocoa and associated crops through the Sankofa Project empowered by Alliances for Action
Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances II
ACP Business-friendly: Supporting value chains through inclusive policies, investment promotion and alliances
Date
-
External ID
B407
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Off