By Joycelyn Williams
Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is the regional trade and investment promotion agency, established in 1996 by an intergovernmental agreement as the trade promotion agency of 15 member states of Cariforum. Caribbean Export’s vision is: “To optimise the Caribbean Region’s potential through facilitating innovation and the creation of world class brands capable of competing globally”. Its Mission is: “To increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing expert development and investment promotion services through effective program execution and strategic partnerships”.
The Caribbean Export Direct Assistance Grant scheme offers basically 2 grant windows viz, a grant of €5,000 (minimum of €1,000) and a grant from €5,000 up to €30,000. By inference, the former is for smaller firms to benefit and the latter for larger firms and intermediary organisations.
A close examination of Caribbean Export’s vision and mission, suggests that the Agency is preferring to work with firms that already have some degree of competitive advantage, to be able indeed to achieve the status of a world class brand, resulting from the assistance received. Indeed, the name and objectives of Caribbean Export emphasize that the
