ICFC - Institut de coopération Franco-Caraïbe

The “Institut de Cooperation Franco-Caraïbe” (ICFC) is a non-governmental organization  which works in close collaboration with the regional council of Guadeloupe.

The main mandate of the institute is the development of cooperation relations, mainly in culture, economy and trade, sport and health, as well as tourism, between Guadeloupe and the Caribbean as well as Central and Latin American environment.

With regard to economic and trade cooperation, the Institute has been regularly heading socio-professional missions to different major events within the Greater Caribbean.

Foreign trade of Guadeloupe is essentially oriented towards France and Europe as Guadeloupe is isolated from its geographical environment due to the low level of regional integration of transport networks (including sea and air).
Moreover, the cost of goods production remains very high and impact Guadeloupe’s export competitiveness.

The private sector expressed its interest in strengthening economic exchanges with the Caribbean but still faces the problem of lack of transshipment ports and logistics hubs for a better connection between the major shipping routes.

Finally, the difficulties of air travel do not facilitate the flow of business and these could be circumscribed by the establishment of a hub airport. However, the EU - CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement signed in 2008 created a free trade zone area which gives strong potential for intra-regional trade development between Guadeloupe and the Caribbean.