Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 5th August, 2015- The consensus of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Member States that “There is a need to facilitate business visas to business persons of the Greater Caribbean, in order to increase their awareness of markets and facilitate their interest, and participation, as exporters, importers, service providers or investors” has led to the creation of a Proposed Business Visa System for the Greater Caribbean. This has come as a result of ACS collaboration with the International Organization for Migration. The proposed Business Visa Scheme is referred to as the ACS Business Travel Card Scheme.

The   overall   objective   of   this   initiative   is   to   improve   business mobility management for trade enhancement. In particular, its scope will be to enhance a business environment that is focused on opening and facilitating trade, through the movement of business persons, which in turn will encourage and promote greater employment creation by supporting the identification, and development of new areas/sectors of interest, and overall trade and investment activities.

With the aim of fulfilling this mandate, the ACS through its Directorate of Trade Development and External Economic Relations will convene the III Technical Working Group on the Issuance of Business Visas in the Greater Caribbean on August 11th 2015. The Meeting will examine and discuss the aforementioned initiative and the impact it may have on the issues affecting business persons and investors as well as to clarify and approve the defined processes for the implementation of the ACS Business Travel Card Scheme.

Principal activities within the meeting’s agenda include a report on the advancements made in the Business Visas Initiative in the Greater Caribbean to be delivered by Mr Alberto Duran, Director of Trade Development and External Economic Relations of the ACS, as well as in depth review of the ACS Business Travel Card Scheme presented by IOM Officials and International APEC Consultants.

The meeting will gather Immigration and Trade Policy Officials of ACS Member States, representatives of Regional and International Organisations such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), along with local and regional private-sector stakeholders.