As global trade policies undergo major shifts, leaders from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) are calling for deeper cooperation across the Caribbean Basin to protect and advance the region’s economic growth.
BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley and ACS Secretary General H.E. Ambassador Noemí Espinoza Madrid met on the sidelines of the 8th Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Santiago, Chile. The high-level bilateral engagement centered on strengthening collaborative ties among the 35 Member and Associate Member States of the ACS, especially in the face of growing international economic pressures.
“The ACS has an extremely important role to play at this time in mitigating the impacts of international trade policy on Latin America and the Caribbean,” Wheatley emphasized. “The organisation is well positioned to facilitate closer cooperation across the Caribbean Basin through its work in sustainable tourism, transport, disaster risk reduction, preservation of the Caribbean Sea, trade, and external economic relations.”
Both Wheatley and Ambassador Espinoza stressed the urgency of enhancing South-South cooperation and triangular partnerships to accelerate sustainable development efforts across the Greater Caribbean.
Ambassador Espinoza, who has reaffirmed her commitment to fostering a vibrant and resilient Caribbean, will spearhead discussions at the upcoming ACS Summit in Cartagena, Colombia. Wheatley noted that the summit will be a pivotal moment for countries and territories to “redouble efforts” toward regional integration and economic resilience.
The discussions come at a time when many Caribbean and Latin American economies are grappling with the ripple effects of evolving global trade dynamics, highlighting the importance of regional solidarity and proactive policy coordination.
