Source: http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=45116502
The CARICOM side at the Eleventh Japan-CARICOM consultation held in Tokyo, Japan earlier this month reiterated the importance of environmental protection and natural disaster management and mitigation, and the Japanese delegation confirmed its readiness to continue its support of CARICOM's efforts in this area.
The CARICOM team highlighted this area against the background of the region's vulnerability to natural disasters.
According to a Joint Communique on the consultation, both sides in focusing on the programme for future cooperation agreed that under the "Partnership for Stability and Development" section of the Joint Action Plan, they would pursue cooperation in the following areas: environment and disaster management and mitigation; the CARICOM Single Market and Economy; human and social development, promotion of trade, tourism and investment; sustainable growth; reinforcement of good governance; information and communications technology and arts and culture.
The Eleventh Japan-CARICOM Consultation was held at the International Confer-ence Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo from February 16-17.
The CARICOM delegation was headed by Deputy Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat Lolita Applewhaite and Japan's delegation was led by Mitsuo Sakaba, Director General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
The Japanese side drew attention to the New Deve-lopment Initiative for Trade which was announced by their Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi prior to the Sixth WTO meeting in Hong Kong in December 2005 and indicated that the new initiative could be utilized by CARICOM states for concrete projects of interest to smaller economies.
Meanwhile, it was noted that Japan would hold consultations with CARICOM countries to identify project proposals that could be implemented under the initiative. The CARICOM side welcomed the opportunity that the initiative would allow for CARICOM to improve productivity, competitiveness and diversification. CARICOM also expressed appreciation for Japan's intention to discuss appropriate, special and differential treatment for smaller economies in the context of the Doha Development Agenda.
