Trade Watch V8 No 3 July 2014

EXPORT PROMOTION

Caribbean Export Supports Haitian and DR Call Centres

Caribbean Export has a commitment to supporting the development of emerging industries in the CARIFORUM States that it represents. As an export development agency, its primary goal is to ensure that the capacity of and opportunities for industries such as customer service to export are expanded by carrying out a range of interventions designed to achieve one or both of these objectives. This is particularly crucial for relatively new industries such as the customer service industry, and call centres in particular. In an effort to satisfy its mandate, the Agency facilitated the participation of a delegation of representatives from the Dominican Republic and Haiti to participate in the 15th Annual Call Centre Week 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from June 9-13, 2014. The Annual Call Centre Week is the largest and most attended call centre event in the US, attracting 130 exhibitors, some 1,500 customer service professionals and more than 120 speakers at each staging. The event offers the benefits of high visibility and exposure to the global call centre industry, a vast and impressive setting, numerous skill-based workshops, and unique networking opportunities.

Caribbean Export saw the Call Centre Week as an opportunity to spur increased investment in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as part of the trade component of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Programme of Economic and Trade Cooperation funded by the EU under the 10th EDF. With the support of CEI- RD in the Dominican Republic and the CFI of Haiti, the Agency organized the mission which included a delegation of select Dominican and Haitian firms. Through participation in this event, the regional participants were able to engage in over 100 B2B meetings with potential investors from all over the world. In the wider context, the Agency seeks to promote FDI opportunities for Haiti and the Dominican Republic via a greater interaction with extra-regional investors. This strategy is aimed at the enhancement of the overall business and investment climates of Haiti and the Dominican Republic as a single but multi-faceted investment destination. Ultimately, the goal is to capitalise on common strengths while highlighting each country´s unique investment opportunities. (TW)

Some of the participants speak with exhibitors during Call Centre Week in Las Vegas, USA

Regional participants during Call Centre Week, supported by Caribbean Export, CEI-RD and CFI

A short documentary featuring three entrepreneurs who are looking to shape and innovate how the Caribbean uses sustainable energy. The documentary reveals each person’s story and motivation for embarking on their projects and what they hope to achieve. Coming soon to a station near you.

11 Tradewatch • The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol. 8 No. 3 July 2014