2022 Annual Results Report

FOREWORD

continue to create and participate in strategic alliances such as the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

During 2022, Caribbean Export worked diligently to develop the capacity of private sector businesses, delivering training in export development, business strategy, market intelligence and understanding regional trade agreements. Filling the knowledge gaps in our society will undoubtedly be key to supporting both current and new exporters in their goal to become global players. In addition to developing regional capacity, the Agency also sought to put this knowledge into practice, supporting the participation of 104 private sector firms in B2B meetings and other networking opportunities with global partners. These included, the Specialty Fine Food Fair and Autumn Fair Moda Trade Show held in the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Rhythm Showcase in Jamaica. Activities such as these are critical to bringing visibility and awareness to goods and services that are authentically Caribbean. The Agency’s commitment to providing access to finance to the private sector cannot be understated. In a rebounding environment it is crucial that private sector firms have equitable access to financing tools. The Agency’s commitment to providing access to finance to the private sector should be emphasised. In a rebounding environment, it is crucial that private sector firms have equitable access to financing tools, as these support firms to develop, redefine, retool, and optimize their operations and processes as they work towards their export development goals. In 2022, the Agency supported 138 private sector firms from across 15 countries, achieving its highest ever grant implementation rate of 88%, a testament to the direct impact and work which the Agency’s programming has on small businesses across the Region. 2022 marked a turning point for the Agency, as it began to showcase its own unique selling propositions in the developmental arena and in solidifying new partnerships internationally, with the understanding that we are all in this together. Only together, can we continue to contribute to the export diversification of Caribbean good and services, boost export volumes and values, and expand domestic markets into larger regional markets, which can serve as the basis for developing our economies. I thank the European Union for its continued support and dedication to Caribbean Export, and by extension, the entire private sector of the Caribbean, as we continue to make international trade the vehicle by which we diversify and develop our economies. I congratulate the Caribbean Export Development Agency on another successful year.

Dr. Carla Barnett Secretary-General CARICOM

One year ago, the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) launched its inaugural Annual Results Report highlighting its achievements and Strategic Plan. This iteration of the publication displays the tremendous potential of the regional organization and how it has cemented its place in the development landscape of the Caribbean. The Agency has been instrumental in facilitating public-private sector partnership. It has advocated for equitable access and resources for small businesses while designing and providing cutting-edge support to enhance the trade competitiveness of the Caribbean private sector. Enhancing the competitiveness and value of Caribbean firms remains imperative for Caribbean Export, and in its final year of implementing the Regional Private Sector Development Programme, these priorities were evident. The Agency set its sights on highlighting the Caribbean as “the number one” place for investment, launching its inaugural Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) in Trinidad and Tobago last November, having set the tone for the event in March 2022 with its counterpart, the Caribbean Investment Forum-Dubai. Here, leadership spoke candidly about the use of foreign investment as the catalyst to build lives and transform communities within the Caribbean. The inaugural event focused on key sectors such as renewable energy, agricultural technology and logistics, as areas which would attract interest and drive foreign direct investment into the Region. Caribbean Export understands that the strategic positioning along global supply and value chains for firms which can produce and trade competitively, is advantageous to their success. We must

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