CARICOM member states are preparing for next month’s initial meeting in Washington of the U.S. – Caribbean Trade and Investment Council under the revised Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between CARICOM and the U.S., which was signed earlier this year in Trinidad and Tobago by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Caribbean Governments and business organisations should start planning on how they will capitalise on this new accord.
If Caribbean exporters are to substantially increase exports to the U.S. and attract sizeable American investment, strengthening alliances with U.S. agencies that are well positioned to connect them with potential buyers and investors in the marketplace and provide critical information on regulatory requirements, is key.
One such agency is the Miami-based Caribbean Trade Center (CTC), Inc., a non-profit organisation whose main goal is to foster business development between Florida and the Caribbean Region.  The centre serves as a resource centre for bringing buyers and sellers of products and services together.
The CTC facilitates trading partners by providing services that include customised market research; networking trade events; qualified business contacts and introductions; trade resources and highlighting foreign investment opportunities.
To achieve this objective CTC, which is in its sixth year of operation, has forged alliances with international business organisations, Chambers of Commerce, Government agencies and Consulates in Florida.

The centre has strong links with Latin American business organisations in Florida, several of which have expressed an interest in doing business with  CARICOM  companies and exploring the English-speaking Region’s investment potential.
Through its extensive network both in Florida and the Caribbean Region, CTC says it provides unmatched resources for the development of business partnerships between the two Regions.
“The Caribbean isn’t just a destination for fun in the sun, hospitality services and exotic beaches. It’s a vibrant business Region, a natural commercial partner of Florida, tied closely together by geography, history, culture and logistics sharing a synergetic relationship. CTC realises the importance of promoting the Caribbean Region’s trade, tourism and cultural dynamics as these sectors are  economic engines for growth and regional prosperity,” CTC President Michael Matthews told me.
Matthews is a seasoned international trade specialist with expertise in logistics and cargo management, including at the Miami International Airport. He also has an extensive marketing and public relations background.
CTC serves the needs of CARICOM exporters and importers as well as small and medium businesses both in Florida and the Caribbean.  “Trade is no longer local or regional but extends globally, presenting ever changing customs laws, quotas and other requirements that present new challenges. Through its resources and industry relations, CTC provides the tools necessary to access global markets,” advised Trinidad–born Matthews.
A small team of industry professionals support the CTC for specific events, which are funded mainly by business sponsors.
As a leading organisation dedicated to trade and commerce development between Florida and the Caribbean, CTC is constantly expanding its strategic alliances and key relationships with business and community leaders. This includes strong links with Enterprise Florida, Florida Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, the International Business Council of Florida, the Florida Foreign Trade Association, Florida-based Chambers of Commerce, World Trade Center as well as Federal and State agencies and the various U.S. Consulates of Caribbean countries.
Many of these agencies participate in the CTC’s “Doing Business in the Caribbean” and other seminars to strengthen trade ties between Florida and the Caribbean and Latin American Region. At these events, Caribbean exporters and trade officials are able to meet customs brokers, freight forwarders as well as representatives from transportation and logistics companies, U.S. Government agencies, air cargo, shippers, and the banking and finance sectors.
CTC also brings together members of the CARICOM Consular Corps in Florida and select industry professionals to network and explore business opportunities. Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the U.S.  Dr. Neil Parsan, was the keynote speaker for one of the recent events.
The centre has also been promoting opportunities for developing medical tourism in the Caribbean, working closely with the Florida-based Medical Tourism Association, which said earlier this year that Medical and Wellness Tourism represents a great opportunity for Guyana and several other Caribbean countries to attract more tourists.
The CTC’s medical forum is attended by  medical service providers, tourism and hospitality agencies, medical equipment distributors, hospital support services,  import and export agencies, banking, insurance, financing and investment service providers.
One of the CTC’s premier  annual events is the Travel, Trade and Tourism Business Showcase. Now in its third year, it showcases services, products and incentives for developing business partnerships. This event is geared towards travel, trade and tourism agencies and service providers, business executives, airline services and hospitality service providers.
The Trade Centre this year launched the first in a series of ‘Invest’ programmes designed to spotlight investment, business and commerce sectors in selected Caribbean countries. The keynote speaker for the ‘Invest Guyana’ Forum in May was Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali. That event was an eye opener for many business leaders in Florida who were pleasantly surprised at the range of investment opportunities in Guyana.
For 2014, CTC’s President says the centre will step up its activities to produce business for the Caribbean and Latin America through trade missions, training programmes and seminars as well as trade expositions.
The Region’s chances of luring more foreign investment dollars would increase significantly if there are project-specific investment proposals available during investment promotion missions. This would include, for example, specific information on the availability and cost of land or industrial estates rental, production costs, research on export markets, labour and utilities costs and incentives for producing particular products.
Jamaica does an excellent job in packaging investment proposals with a specific price tag, especially for projects in the agri-business sector and its trade and investment agency JAMPRO has the expertise to market these projects and effectively negotiate with potential investors.
CTC is keen on serving as a resource for more CARICOM countries for trade and business development with Florida as well as with global markets.
CARICOM countries, particularly those that have  small staffs  at overseas missions in the U.S., limited marketing budgets and little or no training in international trade and investment promotion, would gain considerably by capitalising on the services of the Caribbean Trade Center. 
(Sandra Ann Baptiste is a Business Consultant and Specialist in Caribbean Affairs).