​Chair of the Workshop: Representative of CTU

• ​Welcome remarks from Campus Principal
• Opening remarks from ITU: Cleveland Thomas
• Remarks from Platinum Sponsor: TATT
• Remarks from CTU Secretary General
• Feature Address: Minister of Science and Technology 

​SESSION 1: ITU Activities on Conformance and Interoperability

This session will review the ITU Resolutions on conformity and interoperability. It will show the ITU C&I Programme implementation including an overview on the ITU Conformity Database and the ITU C&I Portal           

S1-1 ITU Regional Activities for the development of ICTs: Cleveland Thomas (Representative of ITU AMS Regional Office)

S1-2 ITU C&I Programme Pillars 1 and 2: Denis Andreev (ITU/TSB)

S1-3 ITU C&I Programme Pillars 3 and 4: Vladimir Daigele (ITU/BDT)

​SESSION 2: Procedures to establish C&I Regimes: International Organizations, reference Standards, Procedures for establishing a Conformity Assessment Schemes, Assessment Studies, Building Labs, Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)

This session will consider the applicability of the global system for conformity assessment (e.g. ISO/CASCO Toolkit) and the approach to Conformity Assessment, Interoperability, Certification and Mutual Recognition Agreements and Arrangements

S2-1 Why assess conformity? The benefits, principles and approaches to conformity assessment: Andrew Kwan (ITU Expert)

S2-2 ITU Guidelines for Establishing a C&I Regime: Vladimir Daigele (ITU) 

​SESSION 2 (cont.): Procedures to establish C&I Regimes: International Organizations, reference Standards, Procedures for establishing a Conformity Assessment Schemes, Assessment Studies, Building Labs, Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)

S2-3 Authentification of certificates in the context of MRAs and proposals to integrate equipment approval and importation procedures to ensure that approval requirements are met: Keith Mainwaring (UNIS)            

S2-4 Criteria and characteristics to establish accredited Bodies/Labs in the Regions for Type Approval/Homologation: recommendations and best practices (e.g. ISO/IEC/CASCO toolbox, guides and standards such as ISO/IEC 17011 and 17025); building Type Approval and Interoperability Test Labs and areas of operation - Part 1 - Part 2: Andrew Kwan (ITU Expert)          

S2-5 Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangements: General Introduction, framework and benefits: Andrew Kwan (ITU expert)

Session 3 : Conformity Assessment and Interoperability - Building Test Labs                               

This session will show some key elements of the BDT guidelines to set up laboratories in the region: strategies, best practices and cost evaluation. This session will also present accreditation schemes that could be applied for the recognition of laboratories, as well as presentation of best experiences, including IAF and ILAC procedures.          

S3-1 Technical and economical steps to be followed to build Testing Labs according to the identified criteria and characteristics outlined in ISO/IEC 17025 (Basic Steps to establish an ISO/IEC 17025 compliant testing laboratory). Criteria for selecting countries for establishing Regional Test Centres: Andrew Kwan (ITU Expert)            

S3-2 Organization and Activity of a test lab environments, procedures and methodologies to be adopted to establish, manage and maintain a testing center covering different kind of conformance and interoperability testing areas: Rubens Maeda (CPqD)           

S3-3 ITU Feasibility Study for Building a Testing lab: Vladimir Daigele (ITU)

​SESSION 4: Conformity Assessment and Interoperability - Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)                        

This session will consider the conformity assessment procedures best practices and procedures set up by various organizations in establishing Mutual Recognition Agreements. The view of the industry with respect to conformity assessment and certification will also be considered.

S4-1 Guidelines for the development, implementation and management of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs): Vladimir Daigele (ITU)

S4-2 Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangements (MRAs): Procedures for definition, implementation and management of MRAs: Andrew Kwan (ITU Expert)

​​SESSION 5: Conformity and interoperability Assessment on Regional Basis . Collaboration among Regional and Sub-regional Organizations for Establishing common Conformity and Interoperability (C&I) Programmes and Mutual Recognition Agreements

This session will consider the ITU Assessment Study on C&I for the Caribbean Region      

S5-1 Assessment Study on Conformance and Interoperability for Caribbean Countries. Background, Objective, Methodology Deliverables and Outcomes: Vladimir Daigele (ITU)

S5-2 Situational Analysis - Status of Conformity and Interoperability and related initiatives in Caribbean Region. Awareness and Capacity on C&I in Caribbean, Centres of Excellences, Assistance required and Training capabilities: Michele Marius (ITU expert)

S5-3 Results and Findings from the Study - General aspects of the Region, Regulatory framework, Accreditation bodies and Institutions: Michele Marius (ITU expert)          

SESSION 5 (cont.): Conformity and interoperability Assessment on Regional Basis . Collaboration among Regional and Sub-regional Organizations for Establishing common Conformity and Interoperability (C&I) Programmes and Mutual Recognition Agreements

S5-4 Development of standards to promote interoperability, quality and safety of telecommunication/ICT equipment and to facilitate international competitiveness and sustainable production of ICT goods and services within the Caribbean region: Fulgence St. Prix (CROSQ)            

S5-5 Proposed Roadmap for Conformity and Interoperability Programme, including MRAs, for Caribbean- Implementation process, phased approach, expected benefits from a common C&I Programme for Caribean countries: Michele Marius (ITU expert)            

​SESSION 6 : C&I policies, Accreditation, test Labs, Certification, Regulations and needs in the region: the experience in developing countries

This session will present the situation in the region with respect to laboratories, accreditation and certification schemes, regulators and industry views. It will also consider the point of views of regulators concerning the need of certification of products to be entered in a national market and to fight counterfeit products. Proposals, experiences, certification and rules, solutions, TBT issues. Best practices for labs accreditation, technologies covered, conformity assessment schemes, associated costs and procedures, products certification will be shown as well.

S6-1 Homologation of Telecommunication equipment, experience in Caribbean- Representatives from Caribbean: Bahamas - Haiti - Jamaica - Trinidad and Tobago - ECTEL - Saint Lucia

S6-2 Testing Laboratory experience in the AMS Region, case studies and practices, way forward and recommendations: Rubens Maeda (CPqD)

S6-3 Technical specifications for interoperability: international specifications and national standards: Keith Mainwaring (UNIS)

S6-4 Certification Bodies: concept, requirements, activities, human capacity needed, market analysis and regional experience: Péricles Teles (OCD CPqD) 

​Session 7: Interactive discussion Way Forward

Interactive groups will make possible discussions among the participants to find possible solutions to a satisfactorily implementation of the common approach for Caribbean Countries: Building labs and/or Establishing MRAs

Chairman: ITU

Moderators/Animators: ITU, ITU experts, CPqD, UNIS            

​Session 8: Panel Discussion - Implementation of the C&I Programme and Action Plan for Caribbean countries

Panel: Follow up for the implementation of the C&I Programme in the region based on the results of the interactive sessions. Steps to be undertaken to facilitate the creation of regional test labs and/or establishing MRAs and to create capacity building opportunities at a regional level. Establishment of further actions economical, technical and regional presence.

Moderator: ITU           

Discussions with Panelists will follow