Implementation of the 10th EDF Regional Provate Sector Programme

ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTING INNOVATION

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO CAIPA

STRENGTHEN CAIPA’S AND THE REGION’S CAPACITY TO ATTRACT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

During the period under review, Caribbean Export delivered and supported a series of initiatives aimed at achieving the outcome of strengthening the capacity of CAIPA, regional IPAs and relevant Government ministries, to attract FDI to the Caribbean. Interventions in this result area include the development of a branding workplan and website for CAIPA; support for regional participation in investment missions and tours, as well as FDI-related events; hosting of annual general meetings for CAIPA; and the delivery of technical assistance and training programmes to IPAs. In 2011, the first phase in re-branding CAIPA and re-developing the Association’s website commenced with the procurement of a brand expert to design the CAIPA logo, tag line, and promotional iconography. This work was initiated with the objective of increasing the visibility of the region as a destination for investment, in additional to drawing attention to the work being done by Caribbean IPAs in this regard. The re-development of CAIPA’s website was undertaken with a view to establishing the CAIPA brand, communicating the competitive advantages of the region, providing relevant, quality and timely information to users about investment opportunities, and creating a platform for learning, promotions and feedback. Work in these areas was completed in 2012 and further resulted in the creation of brand positioning, brand rationale, brand statement, and communication channel for CAIPA. Additional information on these elements can be viewed at http://www.caipainvest.org An 8-minute video, which highlights brands in the Caribbean and success stories, was also developed in 2015 as a promotional tool to be used by Caribbean Export and CAIPA during outward missions. The video was also sub-titled in Spanish in an effort to target Spanish investors and is hosted on the Caribbean Export and CAIPA websites. The Agency further supported CAIPA in its bid to strengthen its brand awareness. Outwardmissions to conferences held by theWorld Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and UNCTAD’s World Investment Forums have been supported on an annual basis. CAIPA BRANDING WORKPLAN AND WEBSITE

From 2012-2015, Caribbean Export supported CAIPA in the hosting of five CAIPA General Assemblies in Bahamas, Belize, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana. The purpose of the meeting were to strengthen the network of IPAs who are members of CAIPA; build the institutional capacity of the Association, thereby establishing the General Assembly as the highest decision making authority for CAIPA; and determine priorities for the next year’s work programme. The event generates discussion around the advancement of initiatives to promote the region; the networking of CAIPA members; increasing understanding of regional investors and their expectations of IPAs; engendering an exchange of information on regional bestpractices in investmentpromotion; discussing plans for the hosting of elections for the CAIPA Board of Directors; proposing initiatives towards the implementation of the RIPS; and planning for the inaugural Regional Investor of the Year Awards (RIYA); and. One hundred and five (105) IPA and regional and international agency representatives have participated in the annual event.

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