The region includes highly indebted poor countries as well as those classified as upperincome and middle-income countries. As small island developing states, the countries are characterized by small markets, human resourcebased economies, limitations of scale, high levels of internal and external debt, vulnerability to economic shocks, skewed wealth concentrations, and declining levels of official development assistance. The integration process and the recent launching of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy provide opportunities to address these challenges.