The Caribbean Export Development Agency’s (Caribbean Export) impressively solid beginnings dates back to 1989, when under the designation CARICOM Export Development Project (CEDP), it played a leading role in the expansion of exports from CARICOM. In 1996, the Agency had the distinction of being the only autonomous CARIFORUM institution established, with offices in Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

According to Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of Caribbean Export, “When moving from CEDP to Caribbean Export, we wanted to become more market-oriented with a greater focus on our customers – the private sector and business support organisations, to provide them with a quality of service to support their efforts.”

Caribbean Export has worked tirelessly to broaden the scope of business in the Caribbean. Funding received under the 7th – 10th Economic Development Fund (EDF) has provided widespread support to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) implementation effort. The Agency’s market expansion and export diversification programme has created awareness of opportunities for CARIFORUM firms with the French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and by extension Europe, with the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement. In addition, the Agency’s export promotion efforts through trade missions and study tours have seen an increase in sales for firms selling their products and services into new overseas markets.

The Agency’s investment promotion mandate contributed to the establishment of the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies along with the strengthening of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). The Agency implemented the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS) to provide greater access to finance for Caribbean firms and business support organisations and has successfully provided over 500 grants to specific priority sectors and target areas namely food safety and branding and packing in the past 5 years alone.

Today, Caribbean Export’s approach to export development is based on seven impact zones namely, investment promotion, access to finance, research and market intelligence, trade agreements: advocacy and awareness, export promotion and development, fostering partnerships and Caribbean Export’s capacity building. The Agency’s focus on the development of world class export promotion platforms to elevate the brand appeal of Caribbean firms with the international market, has seen the creation of the “Caribbean Essence” for the fashion industry, “Caribbean Kitchen” to support the region’s food and beverage producers and the rebranding of the “Caribbean Gift and Craft Show” to “Design Caribbean” to support craft producers and artisans.

“Diversification will be the key to achieving sustainability and ensuring that we remain relevant with clients” states Ms Coke Hamilton. “As such Caribbean Export is committed to ensuring that the mandate which drove the Agency 20 years ago – that of promoting exports and trade – continues to be achieved amidst the changing world of development aid and the evolving needs of the private sector”.