News

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – October 1, 2025 – The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the United Arab Emirate (UAE) through the World Governments Summit under the Prime Minister’s Office  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Governments Summit Organization (WGS) on September 26, 2025, on the margins of the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly. 

The agreement, reflects a shared commitment to foster innovation, sustainability, and knowledge exchange while building stronger interregional ties. 

Strengthening Cooperation Through Shared Vision

• The MOU aims to strengthen collaboration between the Greater Caribbean and the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). It establishes concrete areas of cooperation including: Representation and inclusion of governments from Latin America and the Caribbean within the framework of the World Governments Summit, fostering dialogue on innovation and resilience in public administration.
• Exchange of best practices, knowledge, and expertise to drive entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and digital transformation.
• Joint organization of events, summits, and high-level meetings to expand policy dialogue and capacity building, both within and beyond the Greater Caribbean region.
• Development of cooperative projects that leverage synergies and mutual strengths to address shared challenges such as climate change, digitalization, and social inclusion.

This collaboration reinforces the ACS’s mission to promote consultation, cooperation, and concerted action across its Member States, Associates and Observers, while amplifying the voice of the Greater Caribbean within global discussions on sustainability and good governance. 

The Secretary-General of the ACS emphasized that “The signing of this MoU, which formally launches the partnership between the ACS and the UAE World Government Summit, is a historic milestone for the Greater Caribbean. It opens a new chapter of cooperation that will strengthen bonds between our regions and inspire innovative solutions to shared challenges. The 10th ACS International Cooperation Conference in Dubai will be an unprecedented occasion to translate this spirit of friendship into concrete results that benefit our peoples.”

Expanding Extra-Regional Partnerships

By partnering with the World Governments Summit, a global platform dedicated to shaping the future of governance, the ACS reaffirms its commitment to extra-regional cooperation as a pillar of its Strategic Vision 2025–2035. This engagement opens new opportunities for the Greater Caribbean to connect with international leaders, experts, and institutions, facilitating the transfer of knowledge, technology, and resources essential for resilient, inclusive, and future-ready societies.
Secretary-General Espinoza Madrid reflected that the true success of this partnership lies in a renewed way of thinking—one that reimagines cooperation as a space where expertise is shared, ideas are exchanged, and the bond between our regions grows stronger.

A Milestone in the ACS’ Revitalization

The signing of this MOU forms part of the ACS’s broader efforts to strengthen its network of partnerships with Observer States and extra-regional actors, creating bridges between the Caribbean and the global community. By aligning with global mechanisms such as the WGS, the ACS enhances its ability to mobilize expertise and engage in cross-regional dialogue in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

About the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1994 through an international convention, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among the countries of the Greater Caribbean. It currently comprises 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members, and is guided by the principles of multilateralism, respect for sovereignty, and a unity that values the diversity of the Greater Caribbean region.

About the World Governments Summit Organization (WGS)

The World Governments Summit (WGS) is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments, the World Governments Summit explores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve humanity's universal challenges.