Caribbean Latin American Action will host the 26th Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin on December 2-5, 2002 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami Beach
Theme: Competitiveness of the Third Border in 2005
In April 2001, US President George Bush publicly unveiled his "Third Border" initiative designed to enhance diplomatic, economic, health, education and law enforcement cooperation & collaboration with the nations of the Caribbean. CLAA has wholeheartedly embraced this concept and expanded it to include the entire Caribbean Basin, our traditional sphere of influence. This represents the central focus of our future efforts to promote private sector-led economic development and to improve the well being of the people living in the region.
After September 11, the national security interests of the United States have made the need for politically stable and economically sound borders an even more important priority. The invitation to begin negotiations with Central America on a Free Trade Agreement is testament to that reality. This opportunity to dramatically strengthen commercial relations represents a crucial first step in achieving a comprehensive Trade Agreement for the Caribbean Basin.
The goal of this year’s Miami Conference is to obtain the participants’ unqualified Commitment to the Spirit of Development, to face head-on the twin threats of Poverty and Globalization and to accelerate the Process of Development – Reform, Liberalization and Integration currently underway in the region.
With the need to attract foreign investment as the primary motor for economic development never being greater, the Conference will bring together key public and private sector decision-makers in a constructive dialogue to foster cohesive partnerships designed to drive the transformation process required to attract greater foreign investment – through regional harmonization, business facilitation and greater transparency.