The Washington-based Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) says it will be hosting its 20th Annual Invest Caribbean Agribusiness Forum (ICAF) on Nov. 15-16.
ICS Jamaican-born president Dr. Claire Nelson said ICAF 2018 “convenes leaders from government, private sector, regional development organizations, academia, finance and investment, to increase awareness of emerging trends (resurgence), business opportunities, and challenges (resilience) in the Caribbean agribusiness sector.”
She noted that the US-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act (HR-4939) has identified the agricultural sector for support with standards and regulations compliance to increase agribusiness trade and improve food safety for US consumers.
“The promotion of sustainable economic policies, private sector-led growth and job-creation are also among the key areas identified under the prosperity agenda of the strategy,” Dr. Nelson said.
She said ICAF 2018 “provides an invaluable opportunity to deepen existing trade and policy relations between the US and the Caribbean, and create new strategic partnerships where needed.”
Nelson said panel topics to be discussed at ICAF 2018 include: Trade and Investment Challenges & Opportunities in The Agribusiness Value Chain; Enabling Infrastructure Challenges & Opportunities; and Trade and Investment Challenges and opportunities in Industrial Hemp and Medical Marijuana Industry in the Caribbean.
Other topics are: Research & Development Innovations Enabling SMART Agribusiness Futures in the Caribbean; Farm the Future: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges in the Agri-Economy and Agribusiness Value Chain; and Revitalizing and Invigorating Value Chains: From Niche Markets to Nutraceuticals; Stories From The Field: Case Studies; and Financing agribusiness opportunities in the Caribbean Region.
