The CARO Centre was invited as a partner to the official launch ceremony of the new Interreg programme “Strengthening the Caribbean Business Community” (SCBC).

The event was organised by the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry and took place on 15 September 2022 in Martinique. It was attended by economic and institutional representatives of the Caribbean. Among the questions discussed were the challenges encountered by companies, training and conquering new markets.

The objective of the SCBC project is to bring together the Caribbean business community by strengthening the CARICHAM network, which consists of chambers of commerce in the Caribbean region.

STRENGTHENING THE CARIBBEAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY (SCBC) is a Caribbean Interreg project led by the Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (SLCCIA), the OHADAC Regional Arbitration Centre (CARO Centre) and the association SOS KRIZ.

The SCBC project continues a strategy initiated in 2019 which aims to unite the Caribbean Chambers of Commerce in a network: CARICHAM. Its main objective are:

• structuring of the CARICHAM network
• creation of a psychosocial support network for Caribbean entrepreneurs
• deployment of a common offer of services for CARICHAM members
• training in organisation of trade missions

The ceremony was led by Cinthia Jérémy - SCBC project manager and Marie-Noëlle Catayée, head of the international department of Martinique CCI.

The speakers were as follows:

• Philippe Jock - President of Martinique Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Solène Balaguette - Legal Expert at the CARO Centre
• Prof. Louis Jéhel - President of the association SOS KRIZ and Fabienne Sainte-Rose - Director of SOS KRIZ
• Fabian Isaac - Representative of Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA)
• Misha Lobban-Clarke - Representative of the CARICHAM network (Caribbean Chambers of Commerce)
• Patricia Telle - President of the International Cooperation Commission of Martinique Territorial Collectivity
• Laurence Gola de Monchy - General Secretary of the Prefecture of Martinique
• Rebecca Joseph, Project Manager, Interreg Caribbean Joint Secretariat

The CARO Centre was represented by Solène Balaguette, a legal expert the CARO Centre.

During her presentation, Ms. Balaguette briefly returned to the OHADAC project (Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in the Caribbean) and its objectives for regional integration. She then elaborated on the CARO Centre with particular focus on its range of services when it comes to arbitration, mediation, facilitation and expertise.

Ms. Balaguette went on to present the services that the CARO Centre has selected to support the SCBC project and the creation of a legal status for CARICHAM through facilitation and expertise. These services will allow members of the CARICHAM network to discuss and determine the legal form best suited to the needs and ambitions of this Caribbean network.

To find out more about the Interreg project STRENGTHENING THE CARIBBEAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY (S.C.B.C), click here: https://www.martinique.cci.fr/detail_article.aspx?card=53375

For more information, please contact: secretariat@carohadac.org.

Find out more about the services provided by the CARO Centre: https://www.carohadac.org