Caricom Caribbean Community

What Caricom Caribbean Community does

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a regional intergovernmental organisation established on 4 July 1973 by the Treaty of Chaguaramas and headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana. It comprises 15 Member States (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) and 6 Associate Members (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Turks and Caicos Islands), representing approximately 16 million citizens, 60% of whom are under the age of 30. The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (2002) provides the legal foundation for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which enables the free movement of goods, services, capital, and skilled persons across member states.

CARICOM operates through a governance architecture anchored by the Conference of Heads of Government (the supreme organ, meeting twice yearly), five thematic Councils (COTED, COFCOR, COHSOD, COFAP, CONSLE), and a Secretariat led by the eighth Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett (appointed 15 August 2021). Twenty-eight Community Institutions and Associate Institutions provide technical delivery in health (CARPHA), disaster management (CDEMA), fisheries (CRFM), climate (CCCCC), education (CXC, UWI), standards (CROSQ), agriculture (CARDI, CAHFSA), and development (CDB). Strategic priorities articulated by the 50th (Feb 2026) and 51st (Jul 2026) Regular Meetings include a 25% reduction in the regional food import bill by 2030, climate finance access, reparations, digital transformation, and the Haiti crisis.

The organisation is financed through assessed contributions from its Member and Associate Members, supplemented by voluntary contributions from multilateral and bilateral development partners including the EU (11th EDF), JICA, Afreximbank, New Zealand, FAO, CAF, UNDP, World Bank, and UNFCCC. It operates no commercial product line; its 'products' are policy frameworks (CSME, CET), digital systems (CAPS, Public Procurement Notice Board, CARIBGATE, Online Company Registry), public goods (Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub, regional statistics), and programme initiatives (CSME & ME campaign, CARIFESTA, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, CARICOM BOOST). Headcount is 251-500 staff. CARICOM does not raise capital from private markets, has no subsidiaries, and is not an investable equity; its value proposition is multilateral coordination, pooled negotiating leverage, and regional public goods for small developing economies that would lack individual capacity to procure them.

Name

Caricom Caribbean Community

Legal name

Caribbean Community Secretariat

Website

https://caricom.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CARICOM is a 1973-founded intergovernmental organisation of 15 Caribbean Member States and 6 Associate Members, headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana. It delivers regional economic integration via the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), coordinated policy on climate, food security, health, and security, and operates 28 technical institutions serving roughly 16 million citizens.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Intergovernmental Integration

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK)

Keywords

• Regional economic integration
• Intergovernmental cooperation
• Single market framework
• Foreign policy coordination
• Caribbean regional governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Georgetown

HQ country

Guyana

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member State Contributions: CARICOM is financed primarily through annual contributions from its 15 Member States and 6 Associate Members. Each member state contributes financially to sustain the operations of the Secretariat and Community programmes, as determined through the Community's governance and budget processes.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CARICOM Caribbean Community is a regional intergovernmental organization providing regional economic integration through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), coordinated foreign policy across 21 Caribbean states, and shared regional public goods delivered through 28 Community Institutions spanning health, agriculture, climate, trade, education, fisheries and disaster management. It operates digital systems (CAPS, Public Procurement Notice Board, CARIBGATE, Online Company Registry) that implement the CSME and a portfolio of capacity-building programmes in food security, youth empowerment, and culture.

Product overview

CARICOM Caribbean Community is a regional intergovernmental organization offering a platform of interconnected programs and systems rather than a single commercial product. The core offering includes the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) framework enabling economic integration, supported by digital systems like CAPS (application processing), the Public Procurement Notice Board, and CARIBGATE (exporter information portal). Additional programs span agriculture development (BOOST, Crop Protection training), youth empowerment (Youth Ambassadors Programme), culture (CARIFESTA), and specialized knowledge hubs for statistics and blue economy. The organization operates initiatives in food security, climate change, digital transformation, and health, coordinated through the CARICOM Secretariat headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME): A regional integration framework aimed at creating a single economic space within CARICOM, enabling free movement of goods, services, capital, and skilled workers across member states.
• CARIFESTA
• CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Programme
• CARIFORUM
• PANCAP

Products and services

• CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) The primary regional integration initiative enabling free movement of goods, services, capital and skilled persons across CARICOM Member States, built on progressive trade and economic integration efforts under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
• CARICOM Single Market Application Processing System (CAPS) A Document and Workflow Management System (DWMS) designed to make CSME rights more accessible and improve efficiency in processing these rights, contributing to the integration of national markets of Member States.
• Public Procurement Notice Board A web-based collaborative system facilitating the publication of procurement opportunities across the CARICOM Region for countries participating in the CARICOM Public Procurement Regime, supporting electronic procurement of works, services and supplies.
• CARIBGATE (Caribbean Exporter Gateway) Information portal providing market access conditions for products traded within CSME and products entering Cuba, Costa Rica or Dominican Republic, including tariffs, Rules of Origin, and non-tariff measures.
• Online Company Registry Automated data management system enabling information exchange and networking among national company registries and CSME Unit regarding companies and legal entities across Member States.
• CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Programme Programme launched in 1993 to increase youth knowledge and awareness of CARICOM issues, raise the profile of young people, and integrate their views into national and regional policy across Member States.
• CARIFESTA (Caribbean Festival of Arts) A roving multi-disciplinary art festival held since 1972 providing a regional forum for artists and performers to exchange ideas through presentations of music, dance, drama, and exhibitions.
• Caribbean Blue Economy Knowledge Hub Open-access platform launched by CRFM in partnership with FAO and CAF, bringing together expertise on fisheries, aquaculture, and marine spatial planning for sustainable blue economy development.
• CARICOM BOOST: Women and Youth in Agriculture Project A project supported by the Government of New Zealand to strengthen food security and empower agricultural leaders across member states, aligned with CARICOM's goal of reducing the region's food import bill by 25% by 2030.
• Crop Protection Training Programme A three-level distance learning programme offered through partnership with CARDI and COLEAD, targeting food production professionals and building capacity for sustainable pest management practices.
• Digitalisation of TVET Delivery Project Technical cooperation project between Brazil, EU and Germany, securing €700,000 to digitalize Technical and Vocational Education and Training delivery across CARICOM.

Quantifiable outcome

• Goal: reduce CARICOM's food import bill by 25% by 2030
• +3 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• COLEADcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026COLEAD partnered with the CARICOM Secretariat and Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to deliver a three-level Crop Protection training programme. The six-week distance learning programme, beginning 26 January, targets food production and processing professionals across member states. It progresses from introductory concepts to advanced integrated pest management strategies, equipping learners to design and implement effective crop protection practices for safer, more sustainable agriculture.
• Commonwealth Climate Finance Access HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub partnered with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), UNDP, World Bank, and UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre to organize a regional knowledge exchange event. The event helps Caribbean Small Island Developing States learn from Guyana's experience in leveraging carbon markets to finance Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. Guyana is highlighted as the first country to issue jurisdictional-scale carbon credits from its tropical forests covering 85% of its land area.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO partnered with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) to officially launch an open-access Caribbean Blue Economy (BE) Knowledge Hub. The platform consolidates decades of the region's expertise and insight on fisheries, aquaculture, and marine spatial planning, providing a central resource for sustainable blue economy development across CARICOM member states.
• UNFCCC Regional Collaboration CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre partnered with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, UNDP, and World Bank to organize a knowledge exchange event helping Caribbean SIDS learn from Guyana's carbon market experience for financing Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
• Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCARDI partnered with the CARICOM Secretariat and COLEAD to deliver a three-level Crop Protection training programme for food production and processing professionals across member states. The programme progresses from introductory concepts to advanced integrated pest management strategies, building knowledge and practical capacity for safer, more effective, and more sustainable pest management practices.
• Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) coordinates the Caribbean region's response to climate change and partnered with the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, UNDP, World Bank, and UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre to organize a knowledge exchange event on leveraging carbon markets for NDC implementation across Caribbean SIDS.
• CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) is an Associate Institution of the Caribbean Community that represents and advocates for the regional private sector within CARICOM's integration framework, supporting private sector engagement in trade facilitation, market access, and economic development initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Regional intergovernmental organization of 10 Southeast Asian states. Comparable to CARICOM in promoting economic integration, a single market, and coordinated external policy through consensus-based governance of small and mid-sized member states.
• Organization of American States (OAS): Western-hemisphere intergovernmental organization in which CARICOM members participate. Comparable as a multilateral forum for coordinated foreign policy, democratic governance, and hemispheric diplomacy among sovereign states.
• European Union (EU): Most mature example of regional economic integration via a single market and common policies. Comparable as the benchmark integration model that CARICOM's CSME explicitly emulates, though with vastly deeper institutional reach.
• Commonwealth of Nations: Voluntary association of 56 member states — including most CARICOM members — providing a comparable framework for intergovernmental coordination, technical assistance, and shared political positions, though not a single-market arrangement.
• African Union (AU): Continental intergovernmental organization of 55 African states, comparable to CARICOM as a multilateral IGO promoting regional integration, common positions in global forums, and shared institutions. Both rely on assessed member contributions and operate a permanent secretariat.

Direct peers

• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): Sub-regional intergovernmental organization of nine eastern Caribbean states, deeply nested within CARICOM. Comparable because it shares the same IGO model (Treaty-based, consensus-driven, economic integration) and operates overlapping institutions serving a similar small-island-state membership.
• Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM): Grouping of Caribbean ACP states (overlaps substantially with CARICOM membership plus the Dominican Republic and Cuba) that manages relations with the EU. Comparable as a regional coordination body delivering shared external-relations and development-partner engagement for largely the same Caribbean membership.
• Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): Regional IGO of Pacific Island states that — like CARICOM — represents small island developing states with shared vulnerabilities to climate change, dependence on external partners, and a need for a unified voice in global climate and trade negotiations.
• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): Regional financial institution owned by CARICOM members and other regional shareholders. Comparable as a Caribbean-region IGO providing pooled public-goods services (development financing, technical assistance) under a treaty framework to the same membership.
• East African Community (EAC): Regional intergovernmental organization of East African states pursuing a common market and customs union. Comparable to CARICOM in scale, treaty-based integration model, and reliance on consensus among small/mid-sized member states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caricomorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/caricomorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/caricomorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caricomorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Caricom Caribbean Community