Eleventh Japan-CARICOM Consultation
(Overview)

February 17, 2006

The following is an overview of the Eleventh Japan-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Consultation, which was held at the International Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 16 and 17. From Japan, Mr. Katsutoshi Kaneda, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered the opening remarks, and a delegation headed by Mr. Mitsuo Sakaba, Director-General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the Consultation. From CARICOM, a delegation including permanent secretaries of foreign ministries from each country and a representative of the CARICOM Secretariat attended the Consultation.

1. At the Consultation, lively discussions were conducted on Japan-CARICOM cooperation in such areas as CARICOM Single Market, disaster management and mitigation, and promotion of trade and investment, as well as on the enhancement of cooperation in international fora including the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). In addition, focused discussions were also conducted on the content of the "Joint Action Plan" and its Attachments, which will be adopted at the Second CARICOM-Japan Ministerial Meeting. It was agreed that both sides would continue to coordinate the schedule of the Ministerial Meeting through diplomatic channels.
2. On February 17, both sides adopted a Joint Communiqué, which outlines the outcome of the Consultation.

   [Joint Communiqué, (English / Japanese (provisional translation))]

Note: CARICOM Member States: 14 states and 1 region
Independent States: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti (membership currently suspended), Jamaica, St. Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago; Non-Independent Region: Montserrat (UK territory)