Washington, DC - Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA) announced today that a special panel on Cuba, which will examine the shifting dynamics between Cuba and the U.S. and the broad regional economic implications related to this movement, will take place during the 33rd Annual Miami Conference on the Caribbean and Central America. The Conference will take place from November 30 to December 2, 2009, at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, FL.

"Cuba is the unknown quantity in the Caribbean Basin" says CCAA Executive Director, Anton Edmunds. "We don't know how much the rules will change for U.S. trade with Cuba in the short-to-medium term. Nor do we know how much the political and economic landscape in Cuba will change as a result of these openings. And, for the countries of the region particularly the smaller states of the Caribbean Basin, there is no real certainty about the impact on their economies and foreign investment flows of a more open Cuban economy."

Experts on Cuba from international Governments, business, and academia are invited to convene in Miami to discuss these issues on Wednesday, December 2. With panelists holding divergent opinions on a topic that inspires strong reactions, this Cuba session will be one of the most engaging events of the Miami Conference.

CCAA's Miami Conference on the Caribbean and Central America continues to be the premiere trade and policy forum for the countries of the Caribbean Basin. Titled "Responding to Global Challenges: Surviving and Prospering in Today's Economy," the 2009 Conference will highlight how the Governments and the private sector of the Caribbean and Central America are addressing the multiple economic and political events that have dominated the past year and how the region's international partners are working through the challenges with them.

2009 CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Currently, our 2009 Miami Conference sponsors include: Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Group Jean Vorbe, Inter-American Development Bank, Scotiabank, The Sol Group, Trinidad Bulk Traders Ltd., and Tropical Shipping. Media Sponsors include: Caribbean Update, Business Monitor International and the Latin Business Chronicle.

2009 Collaborating Organizations include: the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA), AmCham Guatemala, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Caribbean Council, Enterprise Florida, Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA), the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA), the Haitian Manufacturers' Association (ADIH), and the Inter-American Dialogue.
CCAA is a non-governmental organization that promotes private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin.

More information on the organization and the Annual Miami Conference can be found by visiting CCAA's website at www.c-caa.org.