Charleston-Caribbean summit aims to boost business relations

Hosted by the Free Enterprise Foundation, the Charleston- Caribbean Leadership Summit will be held April 23-25 at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina.

The summit will offer four focus sessions designed to help business leaders from South Carolina and the Caribbean increase enterprise between the two regions. The summit is a learning and exploration opportunity for today's global-minded business leader. By attending the four primary informational focus sessions, the attendees will be able to explore and network with businesses interested in building the relationships necessary to facilitate and increase business enterprise between South Carolina and the Caribbean.

Participants can attend sessions on four main infrastructure sectors: medical and public health, financial services, logistics and transportation, Internet and telecommunications. Attendees also can meet with South Carolina and Caribbean delegates during 20- to 30-minute sessions to discuss mutual business interests.

To date, some of the high-level registered delegates and speakers for the summit are:

--From the Caribbean: Dr. Compton Bourne, president of the Caribbean Development Bank; Dr. Henry Fraser of the University of the West Indies; and Ralph E. Gonsalves, prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

--From the U.S.: Ambassador Hector E. Morales, former U.S. executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank, U.S. representative to the Organization of American States; and Ambassador Allbert Ramdin, assistant secretary general, Organization of American States.

--Representing South Carolina: S. Hunter Howard Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce; Rhoda Green, honorary consul to Barbados; and Joe Taylor, S.C. secretary of commerce.

On April 24 at 11:45 p.m., the Charleston-Caribbean Leadership Summit will hold a press briefing prior to the Mayor's Luncheon to discuss the conference agenda and recent developing relationships between South Carolina and the Caribbean.

Area mayors Joe Riley, Keith Summey and Harry M. Hallman Jr. are scheduled to be present at the luncheon.

Participation, sponsorships and attendance are open to businesses and individuals.

Contact Katherine L. Bennett at the Free Enterprise Foundation at 953-6007 for information.