AGRI-Invest Country Profiles

WHY INVEST IN VISION 25 BY 2025?

TheCaribbean isblessedwithgreat economic potential and growth opportunities in the agriculture and agro-processing sectors. With the availability of resources such as land, water, fuel and labour, along with the political will of the Heads of CARICOM through the visionary policies being implemented, investors can expect returns on their investment. Although blessed with those resources, the Caribbean still imports most of its food; with an average annual food import bill of US $6 Billion. Most of the commodities imported include wheat, animal feed mostly made up of corn and soya, and a range of processed foods that can be produced locally. Over the last year and a half, CARICOM Heads of Government arrived at a consensus that drastic changes needed to be made to address the growing concern of the increasing regional food import bill. While addressing this, it is imperative for CARICOM to ensure that the supply chain for key products continue uninterrupted as it continues to pursue opportunities for import substitution. There has been a visible shift in CARICOM’s focus with regards to ensuring food security and promoting self-sufficiency thus creating an opening for diverse investment opportunities and a competitive edge in the production of poultry, corn, soya, niche vegetables, meat (goat, mutton, beef, pork), root crops (Irish/white potato, sweet potato, yams), herbs and spices (ginger, black pepper, and turmeric), fresh fruits, fisheries (including aquaculture) and nutraceuticals. There are also significant opportunities in agro-processing, shipping and logistics and other support services to food and agriculture.

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