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| Prime Minister Freundel Stuart??and??President of Mexico, Felipe Calder??n, shake hands yesterday at the end of the??2nd CARICOM-Mexico Summit in Barbados. (C.Pitt/BGIS)?? |
There is scope for greater collaboration between Mexico and CARICOM in enhancing the region’s tourism product – a move which could see thousands more fun seekers choosing another tropical paradise for their ultimate get away.
That is the view of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who acknowledged Mexico’s strides in advancing its market share in the billion dollar industry while addressing regional heads and delegates attending the just concluded CARICOM-Mexico Summit at Hilton Barbados.
He commended the Mexican Government’s international leadership role in highlighting the enormous, yet under-appreciated contribution of travel and tourism to sustainable development.
"We, therefore, hope that the Federal Government’s active involvement in the sector will lead to Mexico’s renewed and active presence in the Caribbean Tourism Organization.?? This would greatly enhance our strategic cooperation in sustainable tourism development for the benefit of the entire region," Mr. Stuart stressed.
Underscoring Mexico’s relevance as a major player in the world economy, the Prime Minister credited the policy-makers for "steering the Mexican economy past the contagion of the international financial crisis and the collapse of international trade, to a position of stable and sustained growth".
In light of this, Mr. Stuart acknowledged that within two decades, Mexico had become one of the leading and most open economies in the world and a strategic manufacturing hub for an increasingly diversified and sophisticated range of export products.
He also mentioned the opportunities for partnerships in trade and investment with the countries of the Caribbean, especially in the context of the CSME.?? "A Trade and Investment Forum is an important vehicle to explore the synergies among our respective business sectors.?? Barbados believes that convening such a Forum should be treated as an urgent priority," the Prime Minister urged.