Support of the Caribbean Export Development Agency to the Regional Private Sector

4th Regional Meeting ofBusiness Support Organisations

 JamaicaMarch 28th, 2011

The Context for PSD in the Caribbean• Caribbean Export’s mandate is to support and promote

the competitiveness of the private sector through the enhancement of their export capability both intra-regionally 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• Market Intelligence

• Knowledge of and Implementation of provisions in CSME, CARICOM/DR, EPA and other FTAs

• Strengthening firm capacity through support to innovation and sectoral clusters

• Focus on rapid growth sectors within which the Region has comparative advantage, trade surplus and proven capabilities to compete

Primary Issues

• Enhanced capacity of BSOs to service their members

• Leveraging other programs to achieve maximum benefit for stakeholders and avoid duplication (CC Challenge Fund, Export Plus, GIZ, CARTfund etc)

• Strengthening CARICOM, DR, FCORs and OCT linkages and exploiting synergies for regional growth and market penetration

Highlights of the 9th EDF CTPSDP1. 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

“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.”

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

9th

ED

F G

rant

s by

Sect

ors

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

Specific objectives of 10th EDF RPSDP

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

60%25%

10%5%

Market intiatives Capacity buildingOther Networking

21%

7%

14%37%

14%

7%

Cap. Building AdvertisingSales and Promotion TrainingConsultancy Market research

Main Concern of Members

Members willing to pay for

Promoting Trade and Export Development1. Regional Trade and Market Intelligence system

developed 2. Regional Export Strategy drafted and promoted3. Caribbean Export Outlook publication and information

portal launched4. Knowledge of bilateral, regional, and international trade

agreements by the private sector increased5. Increased understanding and utilization of IPR as a trade

development tool by governments and private sector6. 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

33%

29%

14%

24%

Advocacy Export PromInvestment 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

76%

12%

6%6%

>15 16-25 36-45 46+

75%

25%

>15 15+

Total Fulltime

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 Activities1. Direct Assistance to SME’s and BSO’s2. Support in the implementation of trade related agreements3. Promoting Investment via the strengthening of CAIPA4. Support to Priority Sectors5. Capacity building via training, workshops, seminars…6. Supporting networks and exchange of best practices7. Quality enhancement and promotion of standards8. Business Intelligence Support9. Market intelligence10. Commercial missions and trade shows11. Enhancing the regulatory framework via public private

sector dialogue, studies, surveys...

EPA Implementation Support Project Execution Period: February 2010 – December 2012Funded by German International Development Agency (GIZ) with contributions from Caribbean Export and the European UnionManaged by GIZFunds: Total 3,9 million EurosPartners: CARICOM Secretariat, CARIFORUM EPA Implementation Units.

Objectives

Components

To enable relevant regional and national institutions to contribute significantly to a development friendly implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement

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-HamiltonExecutive Director