"There is a need for new intellectual ferment in the Caribbean." So says Prime Minister Owen Arthur.

Speaking at the launch of two CARICOM publications at the Savannah Hotel last evening, Mr. Arthur opined that when dealing with matters relating to regional integration, the presence of Caribbean intellect was necessary for resolving "home grown problems". B

arbados’ Central Bank Governor, Dr. Marion Williams, proffered a similar view. According to her, a new Caribbean thought was beginning to emerge and "nudge existing theories".

This belief she said, was based on observations coming out of the Caribbean Connect High Level Symposium on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) which concludes today at the Sherbourne Conference Centre. "Caribbean Trade and Investment Report 2005: Corporate Integration and Cross Border Development" and "Production Integration in CARICOM: From Theory to Action" are the titles of the new publications.

The first book offers an insight into a myriad of statistical data on inter-regional trade and has a three part structure. Part one focuses on Trade and Investment Trends, Policies and Prospects.

The subject matters of parts two and three are Evolving Corporate Integration Structures and Cross Border Development; and Selected Regional Policies for Enhancing Corporate Development, respectively. In the second book, special attention is paid to key sectoral areas which are paramount to the building of the CSME. Some of the topics addressed are: The CSME and Energy: On Natural Gas Pricing; The Manufacturing Sector and Production Integration in CARICOM: a Stocktaking and Some Policy Imperatives for the Future; and Integrating the Financial Sector in the Caribbean.

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