Les employeurs des Caraïbes à la tête de la délégation du secteur privé au sommet SIDS4 de l'ONU

Les dirigeants des organisations membres de l'OIE dans les Caraïbes se réunissent à Antigua-et-Barbuda du 24 au 30 mai pour renouveler leur engagement régional et apporter une contribution essentielle à la 4ème conférence internationale des Nations Unies sur les petits États insulaires en développement (en anglais).

The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and its members from across the Caribbean will hold a series of high-level engagements over the coming days to move forward with enhancing regional cooperation and strengthening global partnerships.

IOE will host a regional meeting for employers on 25 May in partnership with the Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC) led by Ruben McSween, President of the CEC and Director at the Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago; and with the Antigua & Barbuda Employers’ Federation (ABEF), led by Louisa Norris, Vice- President of ABEF.

On the agenda are discussions on drafting a 7-point economic growth plan for SIDS, especially in the Caribbean, which will be presented during the SIDS4 Summit as a key private sector input.  Employers will also engage in a face-to-face dialogue with the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and CEO of the Global Compact, Sanda Ojiambo, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, Dennis Zulu. The IOE Secretary-General, Roberto Suárez Santos, will deliver keynote remarks.

IOE Caribbean leaders will participate in the UN SIDS Global Business Network Forum 2024 on 26 May. Wayne Chen, President of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation, will take part in a panel on Crafting an Enabling Business Environment organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Secretary-General of United Nations Trade & Development, Rebeca Grynspan, will speak at a lunchtime employer event on “Trade, Business, and Small Islands”.

During the SIDS4 Summit on 27 May, the IOE delegation will host a side event focusing on Fostering Resilient Economies in SIDS: the Role of the Private Sector in Job Creation led by Ms Sheena Mayers-Granville, First Vice-President of the Caribbean Employers Confederation and Executive Director of the Barbados Employer Confederation. This dialogue will highlight the unique economic and policy challenges faced by SIDS, especially in the Caribbean, share ideas on how to reinforce economic resilience and sustainable development and identify innovative solutions for growth tailored to the needs of island economies.

"IOE is honoured to lead this delegation and to contribute to the SIDS4 Summit," said Roberto Suárez Santos, IOE Secretary-General.

"Our goal is to ensure that the private sector’s voice is heard in discussions that will shape the future of the Caribbean region. Sustainable development in the Caribbean hinges on robust partnerships between governments, businesses, and communities."

By participating in this summit, Caribbean employers aim to drive forward-looking strategies that not only benefit their economies but also contribute to global sustainability goals.

This event benefits from the financial support of the European Union.