CARIBBEAN PERSPECTIVES
Sandra Ann Baptiste
The writer is a business consultant and specialist in Caribbean Affairs
Caribbean Export to launch major new initiatives
Caribbean exporters can expect a broader range of assistance from Caribbean Export Development Agency (CE) to penetrate international markets, to take advantage of trade agreements and for institutional strengthening as the Barbados-based agency gears up to launch a number of major new initiatives.

The agency, under the helm of Executive Director Phillip Williams for the past two years, will continue to focus on four key areas – fostering an enabling environment for trade and investment in the region, enhancing competitiveness, promoting investment, and strengthening institutional capacity of Business Service Organizations (BSOs) and private sector agencies.

CE, which recruited a number of senior personnel over the past 18 months, is finalising a three-year Strategic Plan.

Priority sectors earmarked to receive assistance in CARIFORUM’s 15 Member States are Health and Wellness, Tourism, Creative industries (film, video and music) and Information Communications and Technology (ICT).

Caribbean Export’s program of assistance to traditional sectors such as specialist foods, handicraft and high-end fashion is under review as the agency seeks to rebrand to reflect current trends.

The agency will also accelerate its investment promotion activities and trade policy seminars to better equip the region’s producers in both traditional and non-traditional sectors to take advantage of the various trade accords that CARIFORUM has signed.

Caribbean Export has been selected by the German Technical Assistance Agency GTZ, to partner with it to execute a US $ 5.7 million (Eur 4 Million) project to assist with the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM countries and the European Union, with a focus on services exports.

Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector will receive export marketing training through an initiative by InWent, another German organization.

Over the past two years, close to 70 companies in CARIFORUM States have benefited from the agency’s Direct Assistance Grant Scheme for production improvements, product development, market expansion, market research, use of information and communications technology and website development.

One of the most recent beneficiaries of CE funds is Automotive Art, a leading retailer of auto-care products and services with 27 franchised stores across the region. A previous recipient of grant assistance, the company, headquartered in Barbados, recently secured additional support for trade show participation, e-commerce and website development.

Suriname-based Gom Food Industries (GFI), which produces soya-based marinades and barbecue toppings, received financial and technical assistance from Caribbean Export to transition from a home craft business to a factory, and to purchase a badly-needed second kettle to boost production to meet growing demand.

This year, Caribbean Export will launch new export-ready well-designed products from 40 regional handicraft suppliers as a result of a major on-going design initiative known as OnSite Caribbean, which aims to increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized handicraft producers.

In conjunction with this, a redesigned Caribbean gift and craft show to showcase these new product collections and to promote the show to buyers, retailers and international visitors, will be launched in the Dominican Republic in September.

While Caribbean Export’s new mandate is to focus mainly on services and non-traditional sectors, export-ready companies producing traditional products can still apply for grant funds and receive help with understanding market requirements and trade policies.

The region’s exporters continue to face challenges in international markets such as meeting sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and are also handicapped by a lack of market intelligence. To help bridge this gap, Caribbean Export will continue, on a request basis, in-country trade policy workshops.

The agency’s Executive Director finds securing regional and international donor funds to maintain and expand programs a “constant challenge”, although this has improved significantly. In fact, over the next eighteen months the agency is poised to quadruple its level of development partner assistance.

Caribbean Export currently operates on a U.S. 5 million dollar budget and has a combined staff of 26 at its Barbados headquarters and sub-regional office in the Dominican Republic.

CE’s donor funds and technical assistance are provided by the European Union( which contributes a major chunk), the Caribbean Development Bank, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Canadian Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) and the Brussels-based ProInvest. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the German agency GTZ are relatively new contributors.

Caribbean Export, which was a key driver in the establishment of the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA), has already begun a collaborative project to promote the region as a preferred destination for foreign investment.

Over the next six months, the agency will conduct an investment climate study, and undertake site visits to Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia. Training, consultations, joint participation in international events and hosting of regional events are also on the agenda.

The agency recently hired a Senior Investment Promotion Adviser and will assist the CARICOM Secretariat i
n the development of a regional investment policy, including the long-mooted CARICOM investment code and harmonization of fiscal incentives.

Even though CE is based in Barbados, some of that country’s exporters and others in the Eastern Caribbean feel there should be more collaborative ventures. In particular, St. Lucian exporters need financial support to upgrade production equipment, to become ISO certified and to improve financial management.
Trinidadian producers have benefited considerably from trade policy workshops
While the Barbados Manufacturers Association (BMA) has received very helpful guidance on procedures to access international funding.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) would welcome support for their marketing initiatives to take advantage of the region’s trade agreements with the U.S., the European Union (EU) and South America.

A continuing headache for most exporters is the prohibitive costs of attending trade shows to market their products and services, such as the Fancy Foods Show in New York. They want alternative shows where they can get more bang for their buck.

Caribbean Export might benefit from a more aggressive marketing campaign to promote its services. It should consider having a Forum every two years that includes all of the region’s manufacturers and exporters associations, Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) and Small Business Associations to hear first hand of the needs of these groups and how they can work together.

At the same time, some representatives from CARIFORUM’s Member States on the agency’s Board will need to play a more active role to enable the region’s exporters to benefit from programs, including training.

Representation from investment and trade organizations, as opposed to government ministries, is perhaps more productive. Jamaica is represented by Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), while Trinidad and Tobago ‘s Board member is the CEO of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA).

One thing Caribbean business organizations and government agencies can look forward to in the first half of this year is access to an upgraded Caribbean Business and Investment Support Network – CARIBISINET,

The revamped regional database will allow BSO’s to develop a strong use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) to strengthen communications, engage in virtual discussions and blogs on relevant topics pertaining to the private sector and the importance of SME development.

CARIBISINET will also facilitate the exchange of information on trade and investment opportunities and best practices.