EPA TECHNICAL WORKSHOP
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
MARCH 10-11 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
• Antigua & Barbuda Board Member is Amb. Colin Murdoch
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 exports
4) Enhancing technological and research capabilities
5) Development of Innovation systems
EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS
1) Improving access to market intelligence
2) Improving the export capacity of service suppliers
3) Promoting Investment and Joint ventures between service suppliers
4) 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 31.12.10
3) Total Value of Phase II was approx. €6.5M
4) 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;
• 198 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
5% 12%
44%
5%
34%
Global Benefits
Training at National Level
Participation in Regional/Extra-regional Activities
Direct Assistance Scheme
Host Country Benefits
Consultancy (s) Awardedto Nationals
Global Activities by Work Programme Area
Data Evaluated by Country Groupings (2010) Antigua
and Barbuda
1% Bahamas 1% Barbados
13%
Belize 2%
Dominica 2%
Dominican Republic
4%
Grenada 3%
Guyana 1%
Haiti 0%
Jamaica 35%
St. Kitts and Nevis
2%
St. Lucia 4%
St. Vincent and the
Grenadines 5%
Suriname 2%
Trinidad and
Tobago 9%
FCORs/OCTs 2% Non-Caribbean
16%
Total Benefits to Member States
Direct Assistance to Sectors and/or Industries
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Agriculture
Agro-Processing
Apiculture
Automotive
Business Support Organisations
Creative Industries
Health & Wellness
ICT
Manufacturing
Mining
Professional Services
Retail
Tourism
Direct Assistance to Sectors and/or Industries
Agriculture 3%
Agro-Processing 19%
Apiculture 8%
Automotive 1%
Business Support
Organisations 4%
Creative Industries
14%
Health & Wellness
6%
ICT 5%
Manufacturing 22%
Mining 0%
Professional Services
14%
Retail 1% Tourism
3%
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
Task Force
On
Trade & Investment
FCOR
EPA AWARENESS & INFORMATION
EXCHANGE
DIRECT ASSISTANCE & PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
COOPERATION TRADE PROMOTION
EDF/ERDF
MARKET INTELLGENCE
OCT
COOPERATION TRADE PROMOTION
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
DIRECT ASSISTANCE & PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
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