(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)      The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Italy will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening political, scientific and technical relationships and promoting development co-operation partnership between the two parties.

The MOU will be signed by CARICOM Secretary-General (ag) Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite and Ambassador Paolo Serpi of Italy at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters, Turkeyen, Guyana on Thursday 7 April, 2011.

The MOU is intended to develop the human resources of CARICOM in areas vital to the development of the economies of its Member States notably in the fields of trade negotiation skills and trade promotion and to develop the scientific and technical capacity of CARICOM.

Some of the other areas identified include Tourism, Agriculture (including livestock, forestry and agro-industry), Fisheries, Mining, Climate Change, Scientific and Technological Research, Information and Communication Technology for Development and Health.

A Management Committee composed of representatives from both CARICOM and Italy will oversee analysis, revision and follow-up of the MOU as well as of any specific Memoranda which may be concluded arising from the original document.

The signing of the MOU will take place during the ceremony accrediting Ambassador Serpi as Italy’s Plenipotentiary Representative to the Community.