CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett addressed the 59th Meeting of the Council for Trade & Economic Development (COTED), with a focus on key issues of regional trade& economic integration

​CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett addressed the opening of the 59th Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), highlighting the extensive agenda before the Council. The meeting focuses on key issues surrounding regional trade, economic integration, and development.
 
Dr. Barnett reminded attendees of the vision behind the Revised Treaty, which sought to balance the collective interests of the CARICOM community with the needs of individual member states. She emphasized that the goal was never to create winners and losers, but to foster a united community that supports enhanced trade, investment, and development for the benefit of all its members.

​Dr. Barnett praised recent advancements in key areas. She highlighted progress on the review of the Common External Tariff and Rules of Origin, as well as the development of draft rules of procedure for the Caribbean Accreditation Council (CAD).

​CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett.