Caribbean Export OUTLOOK 2016

confident that regional businesses can successfully

enter European and other newmarkets if they are

knowledgeable about the area and strategic in their

approach to business.

“Itisimportanttoknowyourmarket,asinformation

and knowledge is key; this includes competitors,

standards, policies, and distribution channels. You

also need to create strategic partnerships and build

confidence among your clients and customers

throughquality,consistencyandtimeliness.Finally,

invest in technology, research and innovation, and

then be prepared to adapt or adjust so that changes

can be made effectively in the short term.”

Notwithstanding all of the work being

undertaken by regional governments and

agencies to support the trade and export

development of the private sector, Prime

Minister Christie acknowledges that trade is

but one contributor to poverty alleviation and

development. He further asserts that regional

governments need to ensure that there is

policy coherence, meaning that national and

regional trade policies complement existing and

projected poverty alleviation and development

policies. This would necessitate a more strategic

and evidence based approach to policymaking

across the board. It would also require the

availability of information in the respective

policy areas to ensure that across the spectrum

of policymakers, it is easier to identify how one

set of policies would impact on the other.

“We need to provide support for business-

friendly policies and programmes, which can

mainstream trade into sustainable development

activities and programmes. Some examples

include business development agencies that offer

startup funds for enterprises, rural marketing

arrangements, investments in education

and skills training for entrepreneurs, and

implementing trade facilitation measures that

enhance the ease of doing business for micro

and small business.”

Pulse OF THE CARIBBEAN

www.carib-export.com

Stephanie Bishop is a Communications Advisor at the Caribbean Export Development Agency. She is a development

communications specialist with over 10 years professional experience and holds a Masters in International Affairs.