Facilitating market development across CARICOM

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a regional grouping of 20 countries, including 15 Member States and 5 Associate Members, home to approximately 16 million citizens. Around 60% of the population is under the age of 30, representing a vibrant and diverse community of Indigenous Peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese, and Javanese. Multilingual, CARICOM's primary language is English, with French, Dutch, and various African and Asian expressions also spoken. Stretching from The Bahamas to Suriname and Guyana, CARICOM includes developing countries, predominantly island states, except for Belize, Guyana, and Suriname. Despite their small size, these states are diverse in geography, population, and development levels. Established on 4 July 1973, with the Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM is built on four pillars: economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security. These pillars aim to improve living standards, achieve full employment, accelerate economic development, expand trade, enhance competitiveness, and foster cooperation. CARICOM emphasizes the energy transition, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and reducing carbon emissions to ensure a sustainable future. As the oldest integration movement in the developing world, CARICOM has achieved significant progress in education, health, culture, and security and maintains a respected international voice. CARICOM continues to drive sustainable growth and regional cooperation by integrating energy transition initiatives.