ACS & Republic of Korea Discuss Post-COVID Cooperation

The Association of Caribbean States participated in the 10th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership. The Forum developed the theme: Korea-Caribbean Comprehensive Partnership in the post-COVID-19 era.

Secretary General Rodolfo Sabonge delivered a keynote address on the ACS position on the importance of coordinating cooperation in the Greater Caribbean. He also detailed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable tourism, trade, transport on the 35 countries and territories of the ACS. He developed the need for digital transformation for recovery and increased competitiveness in the Greater Caribbean after the pandemic.

First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Choi Jong-Kun opened the forum. The forum also featured presentations from Hwang, Kyung Tae, Director General of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, MOFA, The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), presentations on on food security, agricultural technology, and regional public health. Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque delivered the other keynote address on the Caribbean’s response to COVID-19 and its outlook for the future.

Korea is the main donor in the ACS’ Sandy Shorelines coastal erosion project, which seeks to improve monitoring, adaptation and abilities in 10 countries in the region.