Caribbean Export and Business Support Organizations

BSO Impact Assessment

In December 2013, Caribbean Export conducted an assessment of the impact of the Agency’s work with BSOs across CARIFORUM. Overall, 25 BSOs participated in the online assessment, which reviewed participation in a number of Agency initiatives including access to finance, training and certification, export promotion, and advocacy. All respondents indicated that they experienced improvements to their institutional development, which covered three areas: improved access to financing and investment, enhanced institutional capacity, and improved business and export development services. Improved Access to Financing and Investment Respondents shared that participation in the CARICOM-DR Forum has resulted in their memberships being exposed to new areas of technical assistance for projects and financial assistance for fashion designers and apiculture associations. Enhanced Institutional Capacity Assistance in conducting client-specific research activities, and market research training were also cited as areas in which institutional capacity was strengthened. Further, training in grant proposal writing and regional trade information aided BSOs guiding the preparation of grant applications for members, as well as understand the information needs of clients. Improved Business and Export Development Services Respondents indicated that the following enhancement was made to their core service offering: • New and improved ways of disseminating trade information; • Ability to advise clients on how to develop their products (packaging) for export regionally and to the EU; • Implementation of Market Pointers, and inclusion of this tool in organisational annual plans; • Enhanced policy development and advocacy, business development and export training skills; • Implementation of the several tools that help competitive intelligence activities;

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