Caribbean Export Implementation Report 2017-2020

CAPACITY BUILDING: TRAINING WORKSHOPS

Under the 11th EDF RPSDP, Caribbean Export has continued to focus on helping CARIFORUM SMEs increase exports and generate revenue. To achieve this, the Agency devised and built out key capacity building interventions, which were administered in the formof trainingworkshops. Focuswas given to the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, and other trade agreements, to help firms understand how they can utilise these agreements more effectively and efficiently. In a 2016 survey, the Agency found that most firms canvased were unable to effectively utilise the CARIFORUM-EU EPA because they lacked technical expertise and high-quality information to make informed decisions. These deficiencies have eroded the competitiveness of regional brands and have hampered firms’ ability to effectively penetrate regional and international markets. These needs have been echoed by BSOs across the region, as such Caribbean Export continues to partner with the BSOs to improve firms’ competitiveness. In this context, the Agency, with funding from the EU, developed workshops on Leveraging the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Market Intelligence training.

In a 2016 survey, the Agency found that most firms canvased were unable to effectively utilise the CARIFORUM-EU EPA because they lacked technical expertise and high-quality information to make informed decisions.

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