CARICOM and Japan to hold July summit

Georgetown, Guyana(CMC) — Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the first ever CARICOM-Japan Summit to be held in Trinidad and Tobago on July 28.

Issues to be discussed include – the vulnerabilities of CARICOM and the necessary cooperation for its sustainable growth; strengthening exchanges and the bonds of friendship and deepening cooperation in the international arena.

Since 1993, CARICOM and Japan have enjoyed friendly relations the summit signals a significant step as this will be the first time that a Japanese Prime Minister is visiting the region.

The summit comes on the heels of the 35th meeting of Heads of Government which approved the Community’s Strategic Plan for the next five years and includes deepening foreign policy co-ordination among its priorities.

The official opening will be addressed by CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Prime Minister of Trinidad of Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar; CARICOM chairman, Prime Minister Gaston of Antigua and Barbuda and Prime Minister Abe.