COCI launches ‘Island Roots to Global Routes’ to connect Caribbean businesses with U.S. market

GREAT BAY--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) is inviting the business community to take the first step toward international expansion with the launch of its “Island Roots to Global Routes” Caribbean Business Expansion Mission and Expo.

The initiative is designed to connect Caribbean entrepreneurs and companies with the United States marketplace, offering access to business development expertise, trade opportunities, investors, strategic partners and resources needed to pursue growth beyond the region.

As the official introduction to the initiative, COCI will host the “Island Roots to Global Routes Pre-Mission Assembly” on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the JW Marriott Beach Resort and Spa in Dawn Beach.

Entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, exporters, manufacturers, professionals and aspiring business leaders are being encouraged to attend the networking and information session, which will offer an advance look at the U.S. Business Expansion Mission and Expo scheduled for November 16 to 19, 2026, in Miami, Florida.

The wider initiative is being developed in collaboration with regional Chambers of Commerce and strategic partners from Anguilla, Aruba, Curaçao, French Saint-Martin and St. Maarten, with the aim of strengthening regional business cooperation and creating new pathways into international trade and investment.

COCI Board of Directors President Tamara Leonard said the initiative is intended to go beyond the traditional format of a trade event.

“Island Roots to Global Routes is about creating new opportunities for Caribbean businesses to compete, collaborate, and thrive on the international stage. We are building bridges that connect our entrepreneurs with global markets, strategic partners, investors, and resources that can transform local businesses into internationally recognized brands. This is a defining moment for our private sector and for the future of regional economic development,” Leonard said.

The Pre-Mission Assembly will feature a panel of international business and legal professionals who will provide practical guidance on entering and operating in the U.S. market.

Speakers include Marixell Garcia, Director of Business Development at the Miami-Dade Beacon Council; Julio Piti, Vice President of Member and Investor Relations and Development at the Urban Initiatives Task Force; corporate business attorney Jose Ignacio Rojas; immigration attorney Gina M. Polo; and Greater Miami Foreign Trade Zone Executive Director Liane Ventura Guerra.

Discussions will cover U.S. market expansion, international trade and investment, corporate legal considerations, immigration and business visa pathways, Foreign Trade Zones, logistics, business development resources, strategic partnerships, matchmaking and growth strategies.

COCI said the session is intended for both established companies seeking to expand internationally and entrepreneurs with ambitions of taking their businesses into global markets.

The Chamber is encouraging businesses across St. Maarten and the wider Caribbean to participate in what it described as a regional effort to rethink how Caribbean enterprises connect with the global economy.

Admission to the Pre-Mission Assembly is free, however registration is required and seating is limited.

COCI said the journey from local enterprise to international opportunity begins with creating stronger routes “from our islands to the world.”

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