ACS Conference promotes development and climate projects

Havana, Nov 11 (RHC) The 6th International Cooperation Conference of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) concluded Friday in Havana, after promoting the reactivation of projects for economic development and the fight against climate change.

"The Greater Caribbean united towards economic recovery and sustainable and safe tourism" as the central theme, was the starting point for panels on intraregional trade, climate change, dealing with disasters, and sustainable travel, among other topics. The meeting favored dialogue and international cooperation to build a better regional future.

During the closing ceremony with the participation of Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Foreign Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca, Rodriguez thanked the nations that voted in favor of the resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba and highlighted the importance of the event.

"The VI Conference boosted collective actions of cooperation and solidarity, as an indispensable element to face obstacles and challenges in the future of the region," the Cuban Foreign Minister said.

The health crisis had a serious impact on the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, which emerged more vulnerable, in addition to the problems arising from the global crisis, inflationary pressures, and food insecurity, making the work of the ACS more important than ever, he argued.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the ACS Special Committee on Cooperation and Resource Mobilization, Adriana Bolaños, explained that the meeting addressed the challenges facing the Greater Caribbean, the projects currently underway, the organization's priorities, and the opportunities arising from the presentations made by the panelists.

As cross-cutting ideas on which the ACS should focus in the coming months, she identified the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, more access to knowledge and funding, new forms of South-South cooperation, technology, and capacity transfer, and more attention to data and communication technologies.

She also called for attention to regional, institutional, climate, and especially people's vulnerability. "It's all about our people."

During the past two days, representatives of the 25 ACS member countries, observer nations, and leaders of international organizations, such as the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System, and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Agreement, analyzed the work carried out by the organization following the approval of the Plan of Action and the projects emanating from it.

Confronting climate change, natural disaster response systems, boosting connectivity and transportation, and economic and trade development in the region were the focus of the discussions at the event, which took place in the halls of the Packard Hotel.

"The ACS is the ideal mechanism because all these issues transcend the physical borders of the countries, policies, and existing sub-regional mechanisms", insisted its Secretary General, Rodolgo Sabonge (Source: Prensa Latina).