19th Caribbean
Multi-National Business Conference to be held in The Bahamas,
November 6-9, at Sandals Royal Resort in Nassau
With Wall Street
continuing its burst of investment energy, the U.S. economy recording a
relatively strong third quarter performance; and businesses ratcheting up spending
on manufacturing to boost production and trade, Carl Masters, Chief Executive Officer
of Goodworks International says this month’s Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference
in The Bahamas will be such an attractive place for executives and entrepreneurs
to be.
“Conventional
economic wisdom holds that when the U.S. economy is on a fast track to
buoyancy, the economies of America’s Caribbean neighbors can expect good times,”
said Masters, the co-convener of the 2014 Business Conference which is to be
officially opened by Bahamas Prime Minister, Perry Christie at the Sandals Royal
Resort on November 6,” he said.
“The record-setting
pace of investments on Wall Street and the uptick in business confidence across
the country are strong indicators that the prospects of the U.S. economy look
better, much better than was previously thought,” added Masters. “They are all
good signs for the Caribbean and for executives of large and medium-size U.S.
firms and small business owners on the lookout for profitable business
relationships in the archipelago of islands that comprise the Bahamas and the
rest of the Caribbean.”
The conference which
runs until November 9 will have as its theme “The Caribbean – Waves of
Opportunity, Oceans of success” and it will explore a broad range of trading
and financing opportunities in the Caribbean and the U.S.
They range from
investment financing; security and the law; corporate inversions; and creative
industries to sustainable economic development; women of power and influence as
well corporate and public sector leadership.
“Now in its 19th year, the conference has proven to be a
successful gateway to the U.S. and Caribbean markets, encouraging investment
and cross border trade through enlightened partnerships between companies
seeking to diversify their operations by taking advantage of profitable
opportunities in places like the Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama, U.S. Virgin Islands,
Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia and Barbados, all of which have served at
different times as hosts of our lively and informative sessions,” said Karl B.
Rodney, publisher of Carib News. “It is a well-spring of opportunities for
Caribbean enterprises to tap into and gain a foothold in the vast American
market.”
During the four days of collaborative
sessions, presentations and deal shops, conference participants will:
·
Engage
in leaders ship dialogues featuring such iconic public figures as former U.S.
Ambassador to the UN, Andrew Young who served two terms as Atlanta’s Mayor;
David Dinkins, the first and lone African-American elected as New York City’s
Mayor; U.S. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, a Brooklyn Democrat; and New York
State Assemblyman Nick Perry.
·
Examine
the hot button issue of security and the law and its impact on business.
Charles Ogletree, Harvard University professor of law and New York State
Appeals Court Justice Sylvia Hinds Radix are to lead off the discussion.
·
Explore
investment avenues for creative industries as vehicles for sustainable
development. Paula Madison, principal owner of “The Africa Channel” and a
former Executive Vice President at NBC Universal Studios; Ray Goulbourne, Executive Vice President of BET; Sheryl Lee
Ralph, a prominent movie, television and stage actress; and Ben Chavis, founder
of Hip Hop Magazine will lead the discussion.
·
Discuss
“Women of Power and Influence” and their impact on business. Suzan Johnson
Cook, a former U.S. Ambassador for International religious Freedom, Justice
Hinds-Radix and New York City Councilmember Inez Dickens of Harlem are to be
the main speakers.
·
Study
business opportunities in the U.S. and the Caribbean during a session involving
Ed Goldberg, executive vice president of Macy’s, Michael Roberts, CEO of
Roberts Companies, Ambassador Masters and William “Bill” Thompson, a former
two-term Comptroller of New York city.
·
Engage
Sabrina Hosang Jordan, President, Royal Caribbean Bakery, Michele Rodney, Dean
of Monroe College’s School of Criminal Justice, Randy Chin, EVP of VP Records,
Jovia Radix, and Brooklyn Representative in the office of New York’s Governor
in discussions on “Emerging Leaders.”
“The
conference provides invaluable connection for the Caribbean and the U.S.,” said
P.J. Patterson, a former Prime Minister of Jamaica who is a co-convener of the
conference.
Ambassador
Young agreed but put it differently.
“I
have attended several sessions of the Caribbean Multi-National business
meetings in different countries of the region and they have proven to be
valuable sources of information that have propelled business ventures,” he
said. “I expect the Bahamas conference to follow in that tradition.”