As part of a regional effort to upgrade cross-border trade and industrial competitiveness, public sector representatives across Antigua and Barbuda have been formally invited to contribute to a key consultation focused on proposed updates to the CARICOM Regional Quality Policy (RQP).
The process, organized by the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), is being carried out under the framework of an ACP-region project led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), according to Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Three core objectives drive this consultation initiative. First, organizers will outline all proposed adjustments to the existing regional policy, giving stakeholders a clear breakdown of where and how the framework would change. Second, the gathering will collect targeted input and feedback from local actors on the draft revised policy, ensuring on-the-ground perspectives are incorporated into the final document. Finally, the session will serve to validate the strategic priorities that have been identified through prior research into regional quality infrastructure needs.
To accommodate different stakeholder groups, the consultation has been split into two dedicated sessions. Public sector participants will meet on June 18, running from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. local time, while a separate discussion for private sector stakeholders will be held the following day, June 19.
Once finalized, the updated policy is projected to deliver widespread benefits across the Caribbean bloc. Organizers note that the revisions will reinforce the overall regional quality infrastructure system, which will in turn drive improvements in three critical areas: formal product and service standards, reliable conformity assessment processes, and the long-term competitiveness of all CARICOM member states in regional and global markets.