Twenty-first century agriculture and the Caribbean’s future will be the main agenda at the 17th annual Invest Caribbean Business Forum. Hosted by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), the forum will be held in Washington D.C. from November 19 to 20.
Under the theme, “Optimizing Value Chains in Agriculture and Extractive Industries,” the two-day forum will begin with a Congressional Caribbean Caucus Roundtable hosted by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on Capitol Hill. Additional forums include on “The Future of Youth in Agriculture” at the Organization of American States, and the Business Roundtable, where U.S. and Caribbean business persons, Caribbean diplomatic corps and policy makers discuss sustainable growth opportunities.
The focus of the conference is to provide participants information about emerging trade and investment opportunities in the agribusiness sector throughout the Caribbean. The conference will also address opportunities to establish sustainable and profitable partnerships in the extractive industries sector.
“Agriculture remains a key sector with emerging potential to create jobs from micro to mega enterprises,” says ICS President and Founder, Dr. Claire Nelson. “Given a food import bill of over US$4 billion, investments in the agriculture sector can provide both food security and jobs and also earn foreign exchange. We need to transform the culture of agriculture in the Caribbean.”
