Caribbean Export and Business Support Organizations

Supporting BSO Projects and Programme Activities

In April 2014, the Dominican Republic mission was reciprocated when 12 private-sector firms undertook a mission to Jamaica to participate in Expo Jamaica. Caribbean Export provided support to CEI-RD, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, and JAMPRO as organisers of the mission. During the four-day mission, 60 B2B meetings were held between Jamaican and Dominican Republic firms. Expo Jamaica was an opportunity for participants to increase their awareness of the Jamaican private sector and the products manufactured in the local economy. The participants were also taken on pharmacy and supermarket tours in the city to allow for an evaluation of competitive products currently in the market, and concluded with a private dialogue session with the their Embassy in Jamaica. In response to a request from JAMPRO, the Agency also supported the participation of five fresh produce buyers from Europe in attending Expo Jamaica. With the objective of facilitating negotiations between European buyers and Jamaican suppliers of fresh produce and processed foods, the occasion was also used as an opportunity to understand the requirements of both EU produce and processed food buyers, in particular European consumer expectations and regulatory requirements regarding packaging and labelling. In addition to attending in the Expo, the European buyers also held discussions on the entry requirements to the European Union (EU) market, participated in site visits and meetings with Government, quasi-government, and private sector agencies. The mission was executed within the context of a private- public collaborative approach between Jamaican farmers and processed food companies, and JAMPRO, the JamaicanMinistry of Agriculture, and the Jamaica Agriculture Investment Corporation. The initiative provided direct buyer engagement opportunities for exporters, and is in keeping with Caribbean Export’s objective to create business opportunities within CARIFORUM member states in order to promote the sectors that are readily positioned to do business within the global context. Barbados Small Business Week The Small Business Association (SBA) in Barbados hosted the 10th annual Small Business Week in September 2013. Small Business Week is the signature activity on the association’s annual calendar, held to celebrate the achievements of members,

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