The Mexican Government in coordination with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), wish to invite The Governments of ACS Members Countries, whom wish to strengthen their knowledge in the application of better practices in regional negotiations of investment agreements, to participate in the seminar to be held on November 24 and 25, 2005, at the Secretary of ACS, Port Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.

General Objective

The Seminar’s main objective is to enrich the knowledge of International Investment Agreement by sharing and exchanging of experiences and ideas between speakers and participants in order to provide tools to negotiate and build “new generation” agreements. Based on the Agreement signed during the IV Summit of Heads of Governments and States of the ACS, where governments recognized the importance of having a Framework Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments among ACS Members, an instrument that will help to promote, protect and confer legal certainty on investments in the region.

Participant ’s Profile

The Seminar will be offered to Public Officials from the member countries of the ACS, preferably in charge of international investment agreements negotiations.

The candidates must complete the following requirements:

• Resume, detailing studies degree, current position, specification on English knowledge, negotiation experience and/or investment issues experience; impact of participation in the seminar in his/her work assignments
• Employer’s letter sponsoring to participate in the seminar
• Complete the registration form
• Send the information to the Contact person before 11^th November 2005

Alejandro Faya Rodríguez, Luis Alberto González and Jacqueline Márquez Rojano. Specialist negotiators in International Investment protection agreements.

Venue:

Headquarters of the Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States, 5-7 Sweet Briar Road, St. Clair, P.O. Box 660, Port Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies, Tel: (868) 622-9575, Fax: (868) 622-1653, mail@acs-aec.org | http://www.acs-aec.org

Language :

The Seminar sessions will be held in both Spanish and English and simultaneous interpretation in the official ACS languages will be provided. Participants should be proficient in English in order to assure proper comprehension of the texts.

Coordination Organizations:

Mexican Government, through the Secretariat of Foreign Affaires and the Secretariat of Economy.

Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Further Information:

Lic. Jacqueline Márquez Rojano, General Direction of Foreign Investment, Secretariat of Economy, México. Tel. (52-55) 52296163, Fax (52-55) 52296507, e-mail: jmarquez @economia.gob.mx

Lic. Paola Andrea Vacca B. , Trade and Economic External Relations Directorate, Association of Caribbean States . Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Tel. 6229575 Ext. 241 fax 6221653, Email: pvacca@acs-aec.org

The Seminar will be divided into two parts: a) substantive and, b) adjective or procedural.

a) Substantive Part

This part includes dispositions generally considered to be part of International Investment Agreements. Participants will identify the importance of establishing a set of definitions outlining the precise scope of the Agreement; participants will also be able to understand the level of protection and legal certainty to investments of investors through different disciplines and standards.

b) Adjective or procedural Part

This section covers the main provisions that a “new generation” International Investment Agreement should include so as to ensure an efficient, certain and balanced dispute settlement mechanism to settle the controversies arising between and investor and a State.

“Training Seminar on Investment Agreements within The Association of Caribbean States Region”

First day November 24 2005

09:00 – 09:30 Participants’ Registry

09:30 – 10:00 Opening ceremony

First session : Substantive topics

10:00 – 12:00 First Topic:Scope and definitions

12:00 – 12:15 Break

12:15 – 13:00 Second Topic: Articles of Treatment and Investment Protection (National Treatment, Most Favoured Nation Treatment, Minimum Standard of Treatment )

13:00 – 15:00 Lunch break

15:00 – 16:00 Second Topic : Articles of Treatment and Investment Protection (Expropriation and Compensation, Compensation for Losses)

Second Session : Substantive topics

16:00 – 17:00 Third Topic: Articles of Transfers, Subrogation and Exceptions.

17:00 – 17:30 Q & A Session

Second day November 25, 2005

Third session : Procedural topics

9:00 – 9:30 Fourth Topic: Arbitration Investor-State/ State-State: Comparative

9:30 – 12:00 Fifth topic: Settlement of Disputes Investor-State: Procedure; Negotiation and Consultation, Legal Fora Exclusion, Arbitrators’ Appointment, Participation of Contracting Parties, Consolidation of Multiple Claims, Arbitrations Rules: ICSID, UNCITRAL, others; and Enforcement of Awards.

12:00 – 12:30 Q & A Session

12:30 – 13:00 Closing ceremony