11TH European Development Fund Implementation Report 2017- 2023

Data obtained from the sample beneficiary survey in the area of capacity building interventions shows that overall, the Agency’s initiatives have helped small businesses to increase efficiency, productivity, sales, and access to new markets and even helped to maintain staff. This data is reflected in the chart below.

Impact of Capacity Building Interventions under the 11th EDF RPSDP

12%

24%

Increased efficiency and productivity

Increased sales in existing and new export markets

9%

Increased knowledge on exporting; incl knowledge and understanding of trade agreements

Helped to maintain or increase number of staff

13%

Establishment of new export business contacts

13%

Have assisted firm in meeting the market entry requirements and other product/service standards for the EU and other international markets

Improved understanding of intellectual property rights

10%

19%

iv. Increased Use of ICT to Foster Productivity

(1) E-commerce in the Caribbean A feasibility study was commissioned for the development of an e-commerce platform to support MSME’s in the Caribbean. It was expected that an e-commerce platform would provide MSMEs with a distribution channel supporting the increased productivity and expansion through the increased presence in the global market. The study which was conducted in 2018 found that whilst e-commerce would benefit MSME’s there was a low level of e-commerce awareness in the community and general readiness of businesses. In view of this the Agency focussed efforts on building capacity of firms. With the onset of the pandemic, the programme prioritised e-commerce to support the increase of exports for CARIFORUM firms. Caribbean Export facilitated a consultancy to develop e-commerce advisory services which would provide a suite of information on e-commerce that can be accessible to Caribbean firms and BSOs.

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+

Training was facilitated for 55 business people and 41 BSO representatives

A further two hundred and ninety (290) firms were introduced to e-commerce website development.

Implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP)

21