EUROPEAN COMMISSIONDOING BUSINESS WITH EUROPEPORT OF SPAINTRINIDAD & TOBAGOAPRIL 04, 2011

• Caribbean Export is the Regional Trade and Investment Promotion Agency

• Formally established on January 01, 1996 • Intergovernmental Agreement signed by 15

CARIFORUM States• Head Office is located in Barbados• Sub –regional Office is located in the Dominican

Republic• Chairperson – H.E. Ambassador Rosalyn Hazelle

Caribbean Export Development Agency

1) Firms and entrepreneurs have the capacity to take advantage of the new trade regime offered under the EPA (and by extension all other bilateral and multilateral trade agreements)

2) Government agencies (such as customs) are equipped with tools and human resources to monitor, regulate and evaluate trade flows and patterns

3) Ensure that the necessary regulatory framework accommodate new commitments taken with the various trade instruments

EPA IMPLEMENTATION

1) The EPA builds on the Development provisions of the Cotonou Agreement which will remain in effect until 2020 (Article 2).

2) Development cooperation provisions covered in Part One of the EPA (Articles 1-8) as well as in the other Titles of the Agreement

EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS

1) Building human, legal and institutional capacity

2) Promotion of private sector enterprise development

3) Diversification of exports4) Enhancing technological and research

capabilities5) Development of Innovation systems

EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS

1) Improving access to market intelligence2) Improving the export capacity of service

suppliers3) Promoting Investment and Joint ventures

between service suppliers4) Facilitating dialogue between CARIFORUM and

EC Service Suppliers

EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS (SERVICES)

1) 9th EDF package aimed at improving the competitiveness of CARIFORUM Firms

2) Phase II of the CTPSDP ended on 31.12.103) Total Value of Phase II was approx. €6.5M4) The main objective of the Programme was to

support CARIFORUM firms so as to enable them successfully trade in a global environment

9th EDF CARIBBEAN TRADE & PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

1) Increased competitiveness of firms through market expansion and export diversification support

2) A vibrant Caribbean Business and Investment Support Network with Strengthened Business and Support Organisations

3) Greater Cooperation Between the CARIFORUM Business Sector and that of the FCOR and OCT

4) Improvement of the Regulatory Environment for Private Sector Development

9th EDF CARIBBEAN TRADE & PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

• Over 1,400 persons trained in 54 activities covering all CARIFORUM States, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Curacao, Select EU Member States;

• 197 SMEs and BSOs received grants for a total value of €2,649,954 covering all 15 CARIFORUM States;

• Creation and/or strengthening of regional networks in: Music, Audiovisual, Fashion, Architects, Engineers, Health and Wellness, Universities, Management Consultants, & Information and Communications Technologies;

• 5 New Markets explored for Caribbean products• 46 BSOs directly assisted outside the grant programme

Highlights of the 9th CTPSDP

Global Activities by Work Programme Area

Direct Assistance to Sectors and/or Industries

Direct Assistance to Sectors and/or Industries

– There Remains a High Demand for Capacity Building at the Firm Level

– Awareness of Trade Agreements in the Region is Limited

– Many Firms Require Market Intelligence to Assist with Market Penetration

– Continued Focus On The Services Is Very Important– Relations with FCORs and OCTs Require Continued

Nurturing– SMEs Encounter Difficulty in Accessing Financing– Greater Donor Coordination is Required– Improved Public Relations Required

LESSONSLEARNT

Total Value €28.3M – Enhancing competitiveness and promoting innovation

among CARIFORUM’s private sector– Promoting trade and export development among

CARIFORUM States– Promoting stronger trade and investment relations

between CARIFORUM, FCOR and EU OCTs– Promoting stronger trade and investment relations

between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic – Strengthening the institutional capacity of Caribbean

Export

10th EDF REGIONAL TRADE & PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

– Regional Investment Promotion Strategy developed– IPAs and the Caribbean Association of Investment

Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) strengthened– Export and export ready firms provided with financial

assistance– Participation in Expo on periphery of London Olympics– Creation of Caribbean Exporter of the Year Award– Inner City Program for export development and

entrepreneurship– High potential niche sectors strengthened– Develop a regional strategic framework to foster

innovation

Enhancing Competitiveness and Innovation

Promoting Trade and Export Development

– Regional Trade and Market Intelligence system developed– Regional Export Strategy drafted and promoted– Caribbean Economic Outlook publication and information

portal launched– Knowledge of bilateral, regional, and international trade

agreements by the private sector increased– Increased understanding and utilization of IPR as a trade

development tool by governments and private sector– Capacity of BSOs to provide wider range and quality of

services strengthened– Formal establishment and operationalization of the

CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.

Promoting Trade and Investment with FCORs and OCTs

– Knowledge of respective trade and investment laws and

regulations increased.– Export opportunities among CARIFORUM/FCORS/OCTs

identified and exploited.– Operations of the Joint CARIFORUM/FCORS/OCTs Task

Force on Trade and Investment continued

Promoting Trade and Investment with FCORs and OCTs

Promoting Trade and Investment between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic

– Knowledge of respective trade and investment laws and regulations increased

– Export opportunities between CARICOM/DR identified and exploited

– Operations of the CARICOM/DR Forum continued

10th RPSDP EDF Activities– Direct Assistance to SME’s and BSO’s– Support in the implementation of trade related agreements– Promoting Investment via the strengthening of CAIPA– Support to Priority Sectors– Capacity building via training, workshops, seminars…– Supporting networks and exchange of best practices– Quality enhancement and promotion of standards– Business Intelligence Support– Market intelligence– Commercial missions and trade shows– Enhancing the regulatory framework via public private sector

dialogue, studies, surveys...

Other Activities Being Implemented in 2011– Design Caribbean – October 2011- Dominican Republic– CartFund Supported projects:

• Agro-processing– Specialty Food Diagnostic and Strategy Study to increase the use of an

evidence-based approach in the development of the regional specialty food sector

– Promotion of CARIFORUM Specialty Food Products to increase the capacity of specialty food enterprises to penetrate new markets

• Spa and Wellness– Market Research and Strategy Development for improving the

capability of the sector in CARIFORUM– Marketing and Promotion with a view to raising the Caribbean’s

international H& W profile– Standards Development for improved quality of goods and services

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CONTACT:CARLOS WHARTONSenior Trade Policy Advisorcwharton@carib-export.com

Thank You