43 / 104
43
of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, which
would facilitatetheirpursuitof business
opportunities in these markets. The
Manufacturing Study Tour was held in
June 2012, and visited Manchester, UK;
Hamburg, Germany; and Paris, France
with 23 participants from Antigua
and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize,
Dominica, The Dominican Republic,
Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and
Suriname, in attendance.
The Cultural Industries Study Tour
visited Manchester, UK; Berlin,
Germany; and Paris, France in July
2012, and saw 22 representatives from
Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican
Republic, Guyana, Haiti, St. Vincent
and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and
Trinidad and Tobago participating.
Several members of the Study Tour
contingent were able to realise success
as a result of their participation in
the tour. For the full list of Study Tour
participants please refer to Annex 4 of
this report.
London Engage
In
2012,
Caribbean
Export
conceptualized the London Engage
initiative as the platform to launch
Caribbean
businesses
into
the
European market. In addition to using
the Summer Olympic Games as the
optimal setting to showcase the talent
and opportunities available within an
integrated Caribbean, the Agency also
sought to demonstrate the region’s
potential for investment, expansion,
and diversified growth. London
Engage, Caribbean Export’s first multi-sectoral mission to Europe, sought to
build on a series of regional private sector export development initiatives that
were previously implemented or supported by Caribbean Export. Four sectors
were identified as having a competitive advantage for the region; namely Agro-
processing, Creative Industries, Professional Services and Sports; and these were
exhibited through a succession of activities such as Caribbean Design Showcase,
Caribbean Essence Showcase, Caribbean Kitchen, Soul Fusion, and the screening
of the regional sports documentary Built to Last. Additionally, London Engage
was seen as a premiere occasion to introduce regional businesses to investors
in the UK, through two seminal activities, Break Point and the 2nd CARIFORUM-
EU Business Forum. In the lead up to London, Caribbean Export also facilitated
the participation of CARIFORUM firms in two European Study Tours for the
Manufacturing and Creative Industries to France, Germany, and the UK. These
Study Tours also served as the precursor to the 2nd CARIFORUM-EU Business
Forum. A total 171 firms benefited from Caribbean Export’s engagement of
Europe, including entrepreneurs, SMEs, BSOs, and public sector agencies.
Combined, these initiatives not only exposed regional businesses to opportunities
within the European market, but also unveiled the uniqueness and authenticity
of the Caribbean brand to the rest of the world, while providing a much-needed
jumpstart to the utilisation of the EPA signed by CARIFORUM and the EU. For the
full list of London Engage participants please refer to Annex 5 of this report.
Caribbean Design Showcase - Architecture
As apart of CaribbeanExport’s LondonEngage initiative, theworkof three regional
architects was on display at the Caribbean Design Showcase at the University
of Westminster in London, during the London International Architecture and
Design Showcase, which presented insights, architecture and designs from
46 countries. The Caribbean showcase, organised in collaboration with the
British Council, featured a 3D projection of regional architects’ designs, as well
as a wall-to-wall photo display of traditional uses of indigenous earth friendly
building materials in home construction. Running from June 28 - July 15, 2012,
the showcase saw participation from Talma Mills Studio (Barbados/Trinidad and
Tobago), Amonle Studios (Barbados) and the Caribbean Office of Co-operative
Architecture (Grenada). The photos used in the Heritage Photo Display were
submitted by VIVIDARCH (Belize). The Caribbean Design Showcase also provided
a unique opportunity for pioneering Caribbean architects to be a part of a global
debate about architecture and design, exploring the relationship between
the built environment and cultural, technological and environmental change.
Participating architects attended at least five B2B meetings with members of the
Architectural community in the UK, as well as gained a deeper understanding
ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS
AND PROMOTING INNOVATION