11TH European Development Fund Implementation Report 2017- 2023

regional buyers/distributors, generating interest in Caribbean music goods and services, and securing contracts for the practitioners. Two editions of the event were held online in 2021 and 2022 and included a B2B component to foster partnerships and collaboration among regional service providers and increase visibility for CARIFORUM musicians. In the 2021 edition, nine artists from seven countries were contacted by multiple buyers/producers during the showcase, underlining the significance of such platforms for regional artist development. In 2022, the Caribbean Rhythm Showcase took a hybrid format with a live performance event held on September 18, 2022, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, and a simultaneous virtual stream on YouTube 9 . Twenty emerging performers from the Caribbean region were selected through a rigorous judging process, alongside twenty international music industry players invited to attend. Over four days, the performers engaged with music industry executives from major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, garnering significant interest. Despite travel constraints, the showcase featured performers from twelve CARIFORUM states, with virtual B2B meetings facilitating connections with over six hundred potential buyers. Impressively, 61% of attending buyers sought immediate relationships with performers, and 18 buyers praised the event's production quality. Post event outcomes include sixteen performers initiating working relationships or discussions with twelve international buyers, and potential opportunities for performers in events in Nashville and New York, as well as connections to high-end musical theatre. (10) Trade and Investment Conference (TIC) TIC is a multi-sectoral tradeshow produced by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) that brings together local, regional and international businesses. The programme supported the participation of four (4) firms from the Dominican Republic (DR) to attend as exhibitors at TIC and support trade between CARICOM and the DR. This allowed DR firms interested in doing business with Trinidad & Tobago to meet with international buyers of goods and services and provided the opportunity to increase their knowledge on doing business in the respective country and strengthening their market knowledge on TTs consumer trends. In addition, the intervention included a branded booth to increase visibility of the Agency and the 11th EDF programme being implemented. Over 300 participants visited the Caribbean Export Booth, where they learnt of the objectives of the programme and how to leverage the suite of interventions that support export growth and build capacity of CARIFORUM businesses.

"Over four days, the performers engaged with music industry executives from major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group"

9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 980ninZcUFA

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

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