11TH European Development Fund Implementation Report 2017- 2023

iii. Strengthen Regional and International Networks Caribbean Export has continuously provided support to BSOs through inward and outward missions aimed at strengthening regional and international networks for these beneficiaries. Under the 11th EDF RPSDP, this support continued in a more targeted manner. Additionally, the Agency provided increased opportunities for firms to benefit from greater exposure to tangible business linkages. (1) Study on Business Opportunities for DR Firms in CARICOM In 2015, a study on Business Opportunities was commissioned for CARICOM firms in the Dominican Republic (DR). This study has provided guidance on doing business for regional firms seeking to trade intra-regionally. To complement this study, the Agency published a terms of reference (TOR) in May 2017 for a consultant to undertake research on Business Opportunities in CARICOM for Dominican Republic firms, in the context of the CARICOM-DR Free Trade Agreement; and take into consideration the advantages granted under CARIFORUM-EU EPA. The consultancy (undertaken by Puello, Milagros et al) provides key market intelligence for DR companies looking to expand their business within each CARICOM Member State. Emanating from the research report that was submitted in December 2017, a SWOT analysis showed, among many factors, that while DR goods are well established and present in almost all CARICOM countries, services exporters are not aware of the opportunities that exist within CARICOM. And while government authorities in the DR are interested in promoting exports in the Caribbean, there is a lack of cultural experience in doing business that limits DR exporters. However, the opportunities for DR goods and services in CARICOM markets are ripe, especially with the establishment of the DR-CARICOM Free Trade and the EU-CARIFORUM Agreements. Notwithstanding that some of the CARICOM countries manufacture a variety of goods, they still lack scalability and suffer from low production. Thus, recommendations were given for the DR to “take maximum advantage of the opportunities available in the CARICOM market” though a proposed Action Plan that offers a “comprehensive offensive to boost Dominican exports in CARICOM markets” namely through institutional and inter-institutional strengthening, export readiness/potential evaluation, capacity building, regulatory business climate and collaborative inter-firm strategic alliances. As a result, several initiatives were implemented to support increased trade between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic. This included trade missions of DR companies to regional expo’s such a Jamaica International Exhibition in May-June 2019 and the Trade and Investment Conference (TIC) in Trinidad and Tobago each year. Further, CARICOM companies were supported to participate in trade events in the Dominican Republic such as Agroalimentaria and HUB Santo Domingo. (2) Agroalimentaria 2017, 2019, 2023

Recognised as one of the most important food industry trade fairs in the Caribbean Region, Agroalimentaria provides a unique opportunity for food, tobacco, and beverage firms to showcase their products to international buyers. Organised by the Dominican Agroindustry Board (JAD) and the Dominican Trade and Investment Promotion Office (CEI-RD) the 11th EDF RPSDP supported businesses from CARICOM and the DR to participate in 2017, 2019 and 2023. A total of 27 companies representing 12 CARICOM countries has showcased at the event between 2017-2023. In 2017 participants included: 10 Saints Brewery Company Ltd from Barbados; Pomeroon Oil Mill Inc. from Guyana; Coffee Solutions from Jamaica; Suriname Candied Fruits NV, and the Trinidad and Tobago Fine Cocoa Company Ltd. Three firms were also represented by the Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotions Agency (TEPA). Five Haitian companies: CARRIBEX; Berling SA; SUNFOOD; Tropic and Belzeb; as well as the Cacao Cluster of the Dominican Republic also participated within the framework of the 10th EDF Haiti-DR Bi-National Programme. In addition to facilitating the participation of firms, Caribbean Export also supported buyers from Europe; and approximately one thousand-seven hundred and thirty-four (1,734) B2B meetings were held during the three-day event.

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

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