Focused on tackling climate change, air transport and maritime connectivity, the First Conference of Cooperation of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) began in Havana. According to Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra, these two major areas of work of the ACS will focus the debates of this meeting, which is its first edition in the history of the Association and will be maintained for the future and will be held the day prior to each meeting of the Council of Ministers. In the case of maritime connectivity, and under the motto "Uniting the Caribbean by Air and Sea", documents such as the maritime route map of the area, which is already in its fifth stage, are included; a port and maritime strategy; and short sea shipping, coordinated by a Mexican agency. According to Sierra, this and the rest of the activities to be held this week in Cuba are an opportunity to promote regional cooperation and political agreement.
In that sense, the discussion will also deal with trade and tourism, which are also essential elements of the Association. Also, look for ways to address external factors that undermine the sovereignty of the countries of the area, promote actions to deal with the measures of massive deportation of immigrants, and the serious implications for their economies.
At this First Cooperation Conference of the ACS projects are being presented within the Plan of Action of the VII Summit of the Association held last year in Havana. More than a hundred representatives from member countries, partners, observers and other nations interested in strengthening their relations with the Caribbean community, as well as United Nations programs and funds, attend the event.
This IEC Cooperation Conference was jointly convened by the General Secretariat of the ACS and Cuba, in its capacity as pro tempore president of the Council of Ministers of this association and seeks to promote cooperation among the members of the Community.