16 / 76
16
BREAK POINT
Break Point is Caribbean Export’s
competitive reality TV series for
businesses, which seeks to demonstrate
the advantages of the CARIFORUM-EU
EPA for regional firms and generate
awareness for the Agreement in the
region. Break Point also exposed
CARIFORUM firms to opportunities
for increased exports to the EU
market, through distribution channels,
investment, and joint ventures, while
providing regional and international
exposure for CARIFORUM firms. The
EPA opens up 27 markets in Europe to
CARIFORUM companies, and Break
Point brings them all to the table to help
firms gain the opportunity for greater
access to these markets. Four firms
within the services sector were among
the finalists selected for Break Point.
These firms represented the professional
services (management consultants) and
creative industries (fashion, film, and
handicraft).
Overall, 83 beneficiaries from firms
trading in services participated in
Caribbean Export’s engagement of
Europe following these interventions
(Annex 2). 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 CARIFORUM-EU EPA. Successes
are expounded in the Beneficiaries
Highlight section.
Subsequent and prior to London
Engage, Caribbean Export mounted
export promotion missions to foster
entry into the EU market for firms
representing the creative industries
(animation, design, fashion, film,
and music), and professional services
(management consultants). A total of
377 benefited from these programme-
based initiatives (Annex 3).
Caribbean Export and EPA Implementation in the Caribbean Services Sector
EXPORT DEVELOPMENT & PROMOTION