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The Government of USVI Signs MoU with Pleion Group (Connect Caribe) to Create St. Croix as Third Caribbean Regional Hub

Press Release: Bridgetown, Barbados – October 23, 2024



Alex Koutsakis, Owner/President of PetroMar International; Kenneth Schuster, President/CEO of Global Engagement Support Services (GESS); Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Governor of the Virgin Islands of the United States; Raphael D'angelis, Vice Chairman of Pleion Group Inc; Mr. Anthony Weekes, Managing Director of SEDI, Inc, St. Croix Economic Development Initiative (SEDI)


Governor Albert Bryan Jr. signs MoU

ST. CROIX USVI - BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (October 2024) - On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 2pm EST, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. hosted a press conference in Government House in St. Croix to announce and unveil a historic landmark and an unprecedented regional economic development relations, and cooperation partnership with the Barbados-based, Pleion Group Inc and its subsidiary company, Connect Caribe, a regional ferry service organization established to provide maritime transportation for the movement of people and cargo within the Caribbean for the purpose of enhanced trade and regional connectivity. 


The partnership is to establish St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI), as the third (3rd) regional transportation hub to create a major Maritime Ferry Network of moving people and cargo throughout the Caribbean with CARICOM's member States of Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago as the two other main hubs to better connect regional economies in promoting and improving trade and commerce between the US and the Caribbean.


This press conference formally introduced the Caribbean Americas Single Economy (CASE), "Making the CASE," a US Virgin Islands public private partnership, major public policy, and macroeconomic development initiative to ensure the USVI is more incorporated and aligned geopolitically and economically to foster trade relations. Using technology and transportation to open new markets opportunities for local USVI businesses to export throughout the region.


With respect to this historic development, Ambassador Dr. Andre Thomas, Chairman and CEO of Pleion Group Inc. and Connect Caribe, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to join hands with Governor Bryan and the principals of the Caribbean Americas Single Economy (CASE) to launch this transformative partnership that will change the face of Caribbean trade and connectivity.”


“The signing of this landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and key private sector leaders marks a pivotal step in the establishment of the Connect Caribe Hub, a transformative supply chain and logistical corridor. This hub will strengthen connections between the U.S. Virgin Islands and broader markets, facilitating smoother and more efficient trade routes across the Caribbean and to the United States, Ambassador Thomas added.


 He further stated that, “With U.S.-Caribbean trade valued at over $50 billion annually, and approximately $25 billion of that passing through the U.S. Virgin Islands, the creation of the Connect Caribe Hub is set to revolutionize the region’s trade landscape. By utilizing the Connect Caribe maritime network, this initiative will enable faster, more cost-effective cargo movement across the Caribbean. In addition to enhancing logistical efficiencies, this hub will serve as a gateway for Caribbean manufacturers to expand their market reach, providing direct access to U.S. consumers. This innovative partnership will not only boost economic growth in the region but will also position the U.S. Virgin Islands as a central player in the future of Caribbean trade and commerce, not only streamlining the movement of people and cargo but also strengthen the region’s ability to compete on the global stage, opening new doors for trade, tourism, and collaboration between the Caribbean and the United States."


LINK TO PRESS CONFERENCE



PLEASE FIND GOVERNOR ABERT BRYAN JR. STATEMENT ATTACHED








ABOUT PLEION GROUP INC.

Pleion Group Barbados is a maritime and economic development company with the purpose to provide a ferry service, e-commerce trade solutions, and agricultural development, encompassing the movement of people and cargo within the Caribbean and to see the integration of the Caribbean through a maritime corridor that facilitates the movement of people, e-commerce, agricultural development and trade within the region and with Africa and Latin America. 

 

ABOUT CONNECT CARIBE

Connect Caribe is committed to creating a seamless maritime corridor that enhances the movement of goods and people across the Caribbean. Through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, Connect Caribe aims to bridge travel, trade, and e-commerce, fostering economic growth and regional integration extending harmoniously to Africa.


ABOUT SEDI, INC.

SEDI, Inc., St. Croix Economic Development Initiative (SEDI) & Caribbean America Single Economy (CASE), a macroeconomic and public policy economic development, research and development non-profit think tank organization is based in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands. SEDI-CASE Business Summits have been held for the past two years in key major strategic US cities and markets, building economic bridges between USVI and the US East Coast, and in Taiwan (Asia-Pacific Region since 2018).



CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jennifer M. Highland

Communications Director

Pleion Group Inc

126A Plaza Centrale, Roebuck Street

Bridgetown, Barbados

TEL: 1 (246) 539-7878



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