Caribbean Export is truly an international organisation and the only regional trade and investment promotion agency among the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States. The Agency has a vision to be internationally recognised as the leading driver for Caribbean Private Sector Development, and a mission to enhance the competitiveness and value of Caribbean brands, through the delivery of transformative and targeted interventions in export development and investment promotion. Caribbean Export has evolved tremendously over the past 20 years working tirelessly to broaden the scope of business in the Caribbean and its integration into the global market.

Over the past two decades, in addition to the European Union, Caribbean Export has worked with other regional and international organisations including CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, CARICOM OTN, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Department of International Development (DFID), the Trade Facilitation Office Canada, BIZCLIM, PROINVEST, Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE), Commonwealth Secretariat, the International Trade Centre and the World Bank Group to provide support to the region’s private sector. Caribbean Export strives to produce impact and also works closely with national Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to ensure they meet the needs of region’s private sector and can produce programmes in-country to a high standard.

The Agency has produced a gamut of programme-based activities that are designed specifically to enhance the competitiveness of regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote trade and development among the CARIFORUM. The activities also foster stronger trade and investment relations among CARIFORUM and the French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs) and the European Union (EU) Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Caribbean, as well as encourage stronger trade and investment cooperation between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic.

Focused on the priority sectors: agro-processing, creative industries, financial services, health and wellness, information and communication technology, manufacturing, professional services, specialised tourism and renewable energy, one of the key programme-based activities is the facilitation of the Direct Assistance Grants Scheme (DAGS) which has given greater access to finance for Caribbean firms. Over 551 grants have been awarded in just the past 10 years which have included special grants for food safety, brand development and packaging. In addition, grants have also been provided within the remit of the Bi-National programme which seeks to promote the development of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, by supporting the regional integration process taking into consideration the demands of sustainable development and the needs of poverty reduction strategies.

Caribbean Export strives to produce impact and works closely with national Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to ensure they produce high standard programmes in-country, to meet the needs of the region’s private sector. According to Christopher McNair, Manager for Competitiveness and Export Promotion (CEP) at the Agency, “for us it’s about strengthening the relationships with our clients and ensuring that we are satisfying their needs. We want to produce excellence in everything that we do and execute at a high level. There’s always room for improvement and we are continually striving to offer the best service that we can”.

McNair went on to say, “the Agency has evolved over the past 20 years from a project to a development agency. We’ve managed to gain the respect, credibility, and recognition for the work we have done. The Agency has become a thought leader and from time to time, we are called on by governments and various other stakeholders to assist in the execution of studies and aid with the formulation of policies, among other things. We live in a dynamic and ever changing world and as a region we have to embrace this change; understanding that new challenges will arise, so we must remain flexible to be able to adapt to the needs of the regions private sector and remain relevant”.

The development of several branded platforms to support export promotion through trade missions and fairs into key sectors, is an example of how the Agency has been innovative and embraced changed. After 15 years, the Caribbean Gift and Craft Show, for which the Agency was widely known, was re-branded to Design Caribbean, elevating its appeal to the luxury international market and re-establishing it as the largest contemporary collection of Caribbean craft and handmade products. The success here, led to the launch of Caribbean Kitchen, the rebrand of Fancy Food which was launched in 2012 during the London Summer Olympics. Caribbean Kitchen and has gone on to showcase Caribbean food and beverage producers at ANUGA, the world’s leading food fair for retail trade and has facilitated the increase of exports from CARIFORUM to the EU market and further afield.

Caribbean Essence is another branded platform designed to facilitate the entry of Caribbean fashion and jewellery designers into the EU, utilising the EPA. In its maiden showcase, the work of six designers was unveiled during the African and Caribbean Business Experience Expo (AACBE) in London on August 4, 2012. The platform also sought to build on the momentum generated during the presentation, ‘Caribbean Collections’ at London Fashion Week, which was held in February 17-22, 2012, in partnership with Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association (CAFIA).

Other annual trade missions include the participation of firms at Dominicana Moda, Havana International Fair (FIHAV), Femmes Créatíon & Production Trade Fair, and the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC). With each intervention, be it grant proposal writing training, market intelligence training, productivity network (ProNET) training or a trade mission or study tour, Caribbean Export aims to optimize the export potential of regional entrepreneurs, as well as highlight the investment potential of the Caribbean to the international community.

Through the implementation of this latest 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP), the Agency has supported over 6000 people across CARIFORUM. When assessed, 85% of these firms shared that following participation in Caribbean Export’s events, they saw an increase in sales with 49% noting that they gained new business contacts, and 25% entering into new international markets. Now in the final year of implementation Caribbean Export continues to build on the successes, challenges and lessons learnt over the previous 20 years of programme execution. The inclusion of investment promotion into the mandate of the Agency with the provision of institutional support to the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA), has seen the quest for much needed foreign direct investment (FDI) take a more targeted and co-ordinated approach following the development of a Regional Investment Promotion Strategy (RIPS). Implementation of this strategy has included strengthening the capacity of regional Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) and CAIPA to attract FDI through the delivery of training and certification to members and facilitating the participation of IPAs in outward and inward-bound investment missions, hosting FDI related events such as the Caribbean Investment Summit under the theme “The Climate is Right in the Caribbean”, the Regional Investor of the Year Awards (RIYA), and the CAIPA Annual General Meeting, and supporting the brand optimization and positioning of CAIPA.

Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Escipion Oliveria strongly believes that Caribbean Export is here to “turn the best region to live, into the best place to do business” and through their sustained promotion of regional trade and focus on enhancing the competitiveness and promotion of innovation among CARIFORUM’s private sector, they are gallantly contributing towards this end.

CONTRIBUTING TO A CAUSE

Over the last 20 years, Caribbean Export has worked with well over 3,000 companies across CARIFORUM whilst conducting development work to strengthen the institutional capacity of public and private sector agencies, and BSOs, particularly sector associations, trade support institutions (TSIs), IPAs, and coalitions of service industries (CSIs). The Agency have invested in strengthening its own institutional capacity with the development and implementation of a strategic plan which sets the framework for its work, whilst taking into account the needs of member countries. In addition, the role of partner organisations and agencies and the necessity to engage clients to identify needs and adapt solutions to secure impact and sustainability is acknowledged.

The Strategy also outlines the Agency’s core values, namely: high performing teamwork, transparency, results driven and commitment, which are respected by all Agency staff. With a high proportion of the employees at the Agency having served over 10 years, there is a clear commitment and passion for the regional organisation that they represent. The longevity and progress of Caribbean Export is dependent on the people that work assiduously to shape and spur its evolution. And with them, it is highly likely that the Agency will continue to grow and expand working to support new heights of excellence in the Caribbean business world.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Innovation has almost become a buzz word that gets banded around by organisations. By definition it is a new method, idea or product which often can be viewed as the application of better solutions that meet new requirements. Consequently, in this rapidly changing world innovation is a must to remain in the forefront. As the Agency looks to the future, plans for the 11th EDF are well underway. In 2012 the Agency went through its own re-branding with the implementation of a strategic marketing and communications plan led by the Agency’s Advisor for PR and Marketing, JoEllen Laryea. “We’ve worked hard to elevate our brand and our visibility so that we reach more firms across the region. Our website is much more active than it used to be and we’ve increased our social media presence on key platforms” commented Laryea. “It’s important we keep evolving in this area with more digital content being distributed. But to drive this has to be the programmes and initiatives that our team works hard to implement across the region and to a high standard” commented Laryea.

With excellence in service delivery behind everything they do, the Agency aims to address the primary challenges identified by firms and their failure to utilize the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Accessing finance is one of those challenges and whilst the DAGS has had a solid history of providing finance to firms the Agency has raised the bar once more introducing an additional avenue for firms requiring finance. The Regional Angel Investment Network (RAIN) has already been established this year and aims to improve the access of angel investors to investment opportunities and in turn presents the opportunity for entrepreneurs looking for the right investor; developing a pan-Caribbean early-stage investment community and eco-system. Coupled with the lack of access to finance faced by Caribbean firms is the high cost of production largely due to high energy costs. Energy efficiency is a key factor for lowering costs and thus a means for addressing this challenge will see the introduction of programmes that foster a green economy and eco-entrepreneurship.

An area that is often overlooked across many industries within the Caribbean is market intelligence and how it is used or even not used at all to facilitate the penetration of new export markets. The Agency has developed a robust market intelligence system to support market research with the provision of marketing and economic intelligence enabling better informed decision making when firms embark on export initiatives for growth. In conjunction with developing programmes to support growth of the region’s private sector the Agency is also tasked with improving the overall business environment taking on the important role of Advocacy. Strengthening dialogue among private sector representatives and fostering BSO exchanges is essential to effecting positive change within the business environment. The Agency has had a history of being called upon by governments and entrusted to be the driving force for the implementation of critical initiatives needed to support key industry sectors such as the international financial sector and the creative industries. Following the Twenty-First Meeting of the Council of CARIFORUM Ministers the Agency’s mandate was increased to develop, promote and protect the financial services sector through the establishment of a Caribbean International Financial Services Secretariat and Institute. Their establishment has enabled rapid response to threats faced such as the unjust ‘blacklisting’ of nine CARIFORUM Member States as tax havens and continuing issue of correspondent banking which the industry faces.

The Caribbean’s creative industries is bursting with talent, however the industry is lacking the strategic and focused management needed to fulfill its potential to be highly transformative generating income, jobs and export earnings for the region. As such the Agency was called upon following the 26th CARICOM Heads of Government Intercessional meeting to establish the Caribbean Creative Industries Management Unit (CCIMU) to address the needs of the sector.

This is just a snapshot of what is to come, but it is evident that the Caribbean Export Development Agency is committed to contributing towards the development of the regions business sector with the ultimate aim of increasing employment creation, inclusiveness; particularly for youth, women and indigenous groups, and overall poverty reduction in CARIFORUM states through targeted interventions that provide new and innovative framework for growth and development.