Regional Integration

Factors that promote Regional Integration

• common cultural heritage;

• common economic and social issues;
• effects of globalisation, trade liberalisation and trading blocs;
• vulnerability to economic shocks and natural disasters
Majour Challenges to Regional Integration

• (a) small size, small national • (d) low levels of production

markets; and productivity;
• (b) lack of diversification; • (e) differences in resource
• (c) unemployment and distribution;
underemployment; • (f) high levels of
indebtedness (debt burden);
Majour Challenges to Regional Integration

• (g) high level and cost of • (k) difficulties in accessing

imports;
• (h) shortage of skilled
workers;
• (i) inadequate technology;
• (j) low value of exports;
markets of developed
countries;
• (l) shortage of capital;
• (m) vulnerability to natural
disasters.
 Stages of Regional Integration
• West Indies Federation.
• Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA).
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
• Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
• The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
 Objectives of OECS & CARICOM

• functional cooperation;
• integration of the economies of member states;
• harmonisation of foreign policy.
 Objectives of CARICOM Single Market

• free movement of goods and services; right of establishment

• free movement of capital;
• free movement of skilled labour.
 The CARICOM Single Market should
promotes the harmonisation of:

• Fiscal (tax) policies;

• Monetary policies (including a single CARICOM currency);
• External trade policy
• Legislation (custom, companies);
• Sectoral policies in agriculture, manufacturing, fisheries.
 Benefits of Regional Integration
• a) reduction in unemployment and • (e) free movement of goods, labour and
underemployment; capital;
• (b) better response to economic • (f) increased market size;
implications of globalisation and trade
liberalisation;
• (g) improved levels of international
competitiveness;
• (c) improvement in the quality of life; • (h) expansion of trade;
• (d) reduction in the inequality of wealth • (i) increased co-operation among
distribution;
member states.
 Agencies of Regional Integration
• The Caribbean Agricultural
Research and Development
Institute (CARDI)
(Agriculture);
• West Indies Cricket Board
(WICB),
• Confederation of North,
Central American and
Caribbean Association of
Football (CONCACAF);
• OECS sports desk (sports);
• Caribbean Environmental and
Health Institute (CEHI),
• Caribbean Epidemiology
Centre (CAREC) (health);
 Agencies of Regional Integration
• Caribbean Disaster Emergency • Caribbean Examinations Council
Response Agency (CEDERA) (CXC) (education);
(emergency response); • Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
• Caribbean Media Company (justice);
(CMC) (media); • Regional Security Service (RSS)
• University of the West Indies (security).
(UWI),
Role of Citizens in the Integration Process

• entrepreneurship;
• supporting regional producers;
• showing solidarity and mutual support towards regional
fellow citizens;
• investing in local and regional businesses;
• being informed.
 Role of Businesses in the Integration Process

• improving competitiveness;
• increasing range and quality of goods and services;
• providing opportunities for investment and employment;
Role of Government in the Integration Process

• enacting enabling legislation;

• harmonising policies;
• honouring protocols;
• educating citizens about the objectives and benefits of
integration.