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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;