Transcript Anton Presentationv2

The Caribbean Single Market &
Economy
- The Future of Telecommunications -
Anton E. Edmunds
Executive Director
Caribbean Central American Action
CANTO 21st Annual Conference
St. Kitts Marriott Resort
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Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA) is a private, independent
organization whose mission is Strengthening The Third Border®.
It serves its goal by stimulating a constructive dialogue between the
private and public sectors to improve the policy and regulatory
environments for business on both the international and local level.
The organization conducts policy-oriented programs in sectors such as
agribusiness, apparel, energy, environment, financial services,
intellectual property rights, telecommunications & information
technology, tourism and transportation.
CCAA is host to the Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin, the
premier annual gathering of its kind that brings together senior public
and private sector leaders from the region, including Heads of State, to
discuss trade, economic and policy issues in the Caribbean Basin.
CSME Countries
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Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Belize
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Suriname
On the outside:
• The Bahamas
• Haiti
• Montserrat
What is the CSME?
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A regional agreement that will lock the individual economies together into
A Single Larger Unified Economic Space.
It will remove all restrictions and barriers to trade and economic activity
between members countries as well as allow the free movement of
nationals.
Import duties, tariffs and other quantitative restrictions will be lifted.
Allow for the free movement of capital, allow citizens of the CSME to invest
in other domiciles without restrictions.
Allow for the creation of a wider capital market.
Root out discrimination that is currently practiced in terms of allowing
CARICOM companies to do business in each others countries.
It will act as a Caribbean building block for the FTAA
WHAT does this mean for telecommunications as we know it in this
region?
Competition
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For the countries of the region – this should mean more and better options
For the incumbents, it could mean new players in a relatively small market
space
For today’s new entrant, it may mean even more competition
CSME population will be 6,124,608
Is the market large enough for the providers that we have today and for
more competition?
With more competition, the fight for share will have become more critical
for the survival of smaller service providers
Who Will Survive
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Those with access to capital
Those willing to expand regionally though partnerships and acquisitions
Those willing to be creative in terms of services and public-private
sector/partnerships
The Players
THE INCUMBENT
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Who we blame for all issues
Without whom, we would still be underdeveloped
The publicly traded company who has used debt to lay down the
infrastructure which allows us to be, as countries and people, where we are
today
WHAT DO THEY DESERVE
A certain amount of respect and admiration for their foresight
The Players
THE NEW ENTRANT
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We all believe that they will bring down costs
Will bring in new technology
Will encourage if not force the incumbent to provide better service
WHAT DO THEY DESERVE
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Access to the market
Transparency in terms of government action
The Consumer
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT
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Challenge providers to provide more penetration
Increased linkages of our educational and health systems
More creativity in the services that they provide
No hiding of technology and new products from us
That they will be good corporate citizens
Roll out of new technologies promised
Are new entrants the solution/panacea that everyone has thought they
would be in terms of costs as well as new services
The Government
WHAT ARE OUR EXPECTATIONS
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Transparency across this integrated region
One set of rules and regulations
Clearer understanding by governments of the fact that the industry is
driven by size of market
Realistic expectations as to what services are needed
Creativity in terms of deal making with both new and old providers
Design policy based on regional and international best practices/not
academic theory
Do not be an impediment to investment/let $$$$$$ flow
Allow business community be your guide as well as real socio-economic
needs
The Business Sector
THE PRIVATE SECTOR
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The driver of the economy/driver of service & technology needs
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Financial services
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Tourism/hospitality
Telecom providers in this integrated marketplace will need to engage the
business community as to their needs and expectations
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As businesses merge across the waters, do we really believe that corporate
heads will allow multiple vendors/they will consolidate the services that
they purchase
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They will also look for providers who can allow for increased mobility for
employees
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Telecom providers today need to mobilize them to advocate for local and
regional changes prior to this merger of economies and companies
Other Opportunities
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The region will also need to see real linkages between
health/education and telecom/should not be only about the region
being consumers
Challenge those who sell technology that support the industry in the
region to step up/belly up to the bar and be good corporate citizens
- sponsor schools
- sponsor hospitals
- sponsor more than conferences
Do You Really Want
Integration?
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Many of you may not even want a CSME
You want to keep your piece of the pie to yourself, but an integrated region
is inevitable
Only way the region can survive-if we speak, trade and develop as a block
Only way to draw capital to our small islands/countries markets
Only if one feels comfortable that they can invest in one domicile today and
another next month can we see the investment that we want
For those sitting here today thinking you can go it alone-forget it.
Expand into new markets/partner with other entities now rather than get
bought out by those with access to capital later
The market tomorrow will not only be open to those sitting next to you but
to an increasingly aggressive external community who sees the integrated
region as a marketplace worth getting into
THE TIME IS NOW