News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 21, 2025: CARICOM, aka the Caribbean Community, is set to grow to 22.
At the 48th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados, Martinique officially signed an agreement to become an associate member, joining Bermuda, Turks & Caicos, Curacao, Anguilla, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The agreement was signed by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, as CARICOM Chair, and Serge Letchimy, President of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, (CTM).
This milestone strengthens Martinique’s regional integration, enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as healthcare, education, trade, and disaster management. While final ratification by the French National Assembly is pending, Martinique’s new status positions it as a strategic bridge between the Caribbean and Europe, expanding opportunities for economic and cultural collaboration.
Martinique’s accession presents a unique opportunity to strengthen exchanges between the French territory, as an integral part of the European Union, and the 21 CARICOM countries and territories (both Members and Associate Members), encompassing approximately 18 million people. With its new status, Martinique will be positioned to develop joint projects in key economic sectors, including health care, education, transport, and disaster risk management, further establishing itself as a strategic bridge between the Caribbean and Europe.
Becoming an Associate Member of CARICOM is a key step in Martinique’s broader ambition for regional integration. The French territory has previously attained Associate Member status with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in 2012, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in 2014, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in 2015.
Martinique’s accession to CARICOM brings several significant benefits for the region:
- Economic development: Expanding access to Caribbean and European markets while diversifying business opportunities.
- Enhanced cooperation: Strengthening collaboration in key areas such as health care, education, security, and crisis management.
- Mobility and employment: Facilitating professional and academic exchanges for Caribbean consultants and students.
- Tourism, sports and culture: Boosting exchanges with neighboring territories to reinforce Caribbean culture, sports, and regional tourism.
Through this accession, Martinique reaffirms its deep Caribbean identity and commitment to fostering development and innovation within CARICOM.
