T&T will host the Eighth Americas Competitive Forun from October 8-10, 2014. The dates were announced yesterday when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar took over as chair of the Inter American Competitive Network during a transition ceremony in Panama City, Panama.Persad-Bissessar assurred that her administration was "undertaking this assignment with the same degree of meticulous planning and professionalism that we have seen for America Competitiveness Forum (ACF) 2013".
"Indeed whjat we have seen over the years as the ACF changed host nations, is a continuity that is reflected in the success of the Forum, which is today the Western Hemisphere's preeminent event for goverrnment and business leaders to discuss innovative methods to achieve economic competitiveness and promote innovation in our hemisphere."
Persad-Bissessar said ACF distinguished itself from other international gatherings by promoting novel approaches to economic competitiveness, enabling public and private sector representativees opportunities to explore new business models.She said she expected T&T to host 2,000 delegates at the 2014 event.
The prime minister also announced that Planning and Sustainable Development Ministry led by Dr Bhoe Tewarue was lead entity for ACF 2014 and has established a secretariat to plan and execute the event.She said the secretariat is developing a comprehensive communications strategy and a Web site has been designed.
Commenting on some of the issues to be addressed at ACF 2014, Persad-Bissessar said: "Education is of special significance to us in Trinidad and Tobago where we are investing in training as workforce that would be ready to face the challenges of the 21st century where globalisation has redefined the rules of trade and opened greater opportunities for even small states like ours.
"When we meet in Port-of-Spain next year we will continue what we have started and deal with the human imagination at work and how this is driving competitiveness and powering innovation."