Support of the
Caribbean Export Development Agency
to the Regional Private Sector
4th Regional Meeting of
Business Support Organisations
Jamaica
March 28th, 2011
The Context for PSD in the Caribbean
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Caribbean Export’s mandate is to support and promote
the competitiveness of the private sector through the
enhancement of their export capability both intraregionally and extra-regionally.
Caribbean Export has actively engaged in the
facilitation of companies, BSOs and member states
through the implementation of targeted interventions
Several changes have taken place in the international
trading arena since the agency was established in 1996
These changes require a re-evaluation and change in the
approach taken by the agency in meeting the needs of
the private sector in the 21st century
Primary Issues
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Market Intelligence
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Knowledge of and Implementation of provisions in
CSME, CARICOM/DR, EPA and other FTAs
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Strengthening firm capacity through support to
innovation and sectoral clusters
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Focus on rapid growth sectors within which the Region
has comparative advantage, trade surplus and proven
capabilities to compete
Primary Issues
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Enhanced capacity of BSOs to service their members
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Leveraging other programs to achieve maximum benefit
for stakeholders and avoid duplication (CC Challenge
Fund, Export Plus, GIZ, CARTfund etc)
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Strengthening CARICOM, DR, FCORs and OCT
linkages and exploiting synergies for regional growth
and market penetration
Highlights of the 9th EDF CTPSDP
1. Over 1,400 persons trained in 54 activities covering all
CARIFORUM States, Martinique, Guadeloupe and
Curacao;
2. 198 SMEs and BSOs received grants for a total value of
€ 2,649,954 covering all 15 CARIFORUM States;
3. Creation and/or strengthening of regional networks in:
Music, Audiovisual, Fashion, Architects and Engineers,
Health and Wellness, Universities, Management
Consultants, & Information and Communications
Technologies;
4. 5 New Markets explored for Caribbean products
5. 46 BSOs directly assisted outside the grant programme
Caribbean Export will manage the 10th EDF
Regional Private Sector Development Programme
(RPSDP)
5 years - 34.6 Million Euros of which
28.3 million from the EDF
“The overall objective of the 10th EDF RPSDP is to
contribute to the gradual integration of
CARIFORUM countries into the world economy
enhancing regional economic growth and by
extension alleviate poverty.”
9th EDF Grants by Sectors
Specific objectives of 10th EDF RPSDP
1. Enhancing Competitiveness and Promoting Innovation among
CARIFORUM's private sector
2. Promoting Trade and Export Development among
CARIFORUM States
3. Promoting stronger trade and investment relations between
CARIFORUM, French Caribbean Outermost regions (FCORs)
and EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the
Caribbean.
4. Promoting stronger trade and investment cooperation between
CARICOM and the Dominican Republic
5. Strengthening the institutional capacity of Caribbean Export to
implement trade and investment promotion programmes
Enhancing Competitiveness and
Innovation
• Support BSOs in accessing funds through the
CE grant scheme
• Leveraging grant scheme to assist BSOs in
accessing complementary schemes and
financing mechanisms
• Support BSOs in participating in the
development of a regional framework to foster
innovation – utilizing universities, R&D
institutions et al
Enhancing Competitiveness cont’d
• Support work of specific sectors and
professional service areas to develop strategies
to support the sustainability of BSOs within
CARIFORUM
Services
Main Concern of
Members
Members willing to
pay for
7%
5%
21%
10%
14%
7%
25%
60%
14%
37%
Market intiatives
Other
Capacity building
Networking
Cap. Building
Sales and Promotion
Consultancy
Advertising
Training
Market research
Promoting Trade and Export Development
1. Regional Trade and Market Intelligence system
developed
2. Regional Export Strategy drafted and promoted
3. Caribbean Export Outlook publication and information
portal launched
4. Knowledge of bilateral, regional, and international trade
agreements by the private sector increased
5. Increased understanding and utilization of IPR as a trade
development tool by governments and private sector
6. Formal establishment and operationalization of the
CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.
7. Capacity of BSOs to provide wider range and quality
of services strengthened
Core Services Provided
24%
33%
14%
29%
Advocacy
Investment Prom
Export Prom
Products Dev.
Capacity of BSOs strengthened
• Capacity of BSOs to provide wider range and
quality of services
• Assessment of effectiveness of prior assistance
programs of BSOs in order to improve impact and
deliverables
• Support to BSOs including training, technical
assistance, missions, workshops
• Recruitment of “business advisers” for placement in
BSOs to support increased understanding of and
access to export and market opportunities
Staff
Total
Fulltime
6%
6%
25%
12%
75%
76%
>15
16-25
36-45
46+
>15
15+
Promoting Trade and Investment with
FCORs and OCTs
1. Knowledge of respective trade and investment laws and
regulations increased.
2. Export
opportunities
among
CARIFORUM/
FCORS/OCTs identified and exploited.
3. Operations of the Joint CARIFORUM/FCORS/OCTs
Task Force on Trade and Investment continued
Promoting Trade and Investment between
CARICOM and the Dominican Republic
1. Knowledge of respective trade and investment laws and
regulations increased
2. Export opportunities between CARICOM/DR identified
and exploited
3. Operations of the CARICOM/DR Forum continued
10th RPSDP EDF Activities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
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...
EPA Implementation Support Project
Execution Period: February 2010 – December 2012
Funded by German International Development
Agency (GIZ) with contributions from Caribbean
Export and the European Union
Managed by GIZ
Funds: Total 3,9 million Euros
Partners: CARICOM Secretariat, CARIFORUM
EPA Implementation Units.
Objectives
To enable relevant regional and national institutions to
contribute significantly to a development friendly
implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic
Partnership Agreement
Components
1. Technical workshops at the regional and national levels;
2. Support to CARIFORUM EPA implementation Units;
3. Support to CARIFORUM BSO in the implementation of EPA
related activities
4. Support to the Caribbean Network of Services Coalitions
(CNSC)
5. Support to value added chains development (Agro-industry)
Mrs. Pamela Coke-Hamilton
Executive Director