September 25, 2025
The economic resilience of many small island states is only an option, but a necessity for the Caribbean on long -term sustainability.
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© UN Trade and Development (Unctad) | The General Secretary Rebeca Grynspan (right) and Carla Barnett (left) met in the high-ranking week of the 80th meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York.
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Agreement was signed during the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
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Concentrate on data, digital economy, trade and nutritional security.
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Specific step towards further development of the Unctad strategy for the development states of small island.
At the 80th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly this week, UN Trade and Development (Unctad) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) signed their first cooperation agreement to strengthen the resistance of the region and to unlock new growth sources.
Unctad General Secretary Rebeca Grynspan and the Secretary General of Karikom, Carla Barnett, formalized the agreement on the sidelines of the meeting. Cooperation in key areas leads to strengthening statistics, promoting innovations and industrial policy, the support of micro, small and medium-sized companies, increasing services and the digital economy, improving trading and improving nutritional safety.
It is important why it is important for small island states
The missions are high for the Caribbean, one of the most endangered regions in the world. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are repeated external shocks – from climate events to global financial volatility – and depend heavily on sectors such as tourism. The diversification between the sectors-von of digital services and e-commerce to resilient food systems and innovative industrial guidelines not only an option, but a need for long-term sustainability.
“The creativity and dynamics of the Caribbean are known,” said Ms. Grynspan. “In order to transform the potential into real transformation, the countries need reliable data, a stronger digital infrastructure and guidelines that enable entrepreneurs. Unctad is ready to accompany Caricom on this trip.”
Concrete path forwards
The agreement marks a specific step forward in the implementation of Unctad strategy to support SIDS. It builds on ongoing initiatives, including a joint project for trading with service statistics with Caricom and the UN economic commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
By bundling the efforts at the regional level, Unctad and Caricom want to implement today's opportunities – from the creative industry to digital financing to trading and nutritional safety – into integrative growth, jobs and a more resistant future for the Caribbean.