Implementation of the 10th EDF Regional Provate Sector Programme

ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTING INNOVATION

Caribbean Exporter of the Year Award

consultation will be incorporated into the final Business Plan where feasible. The presentation consisted of four sessions, covering the following: Session 1: Status of Research and Consultative Process: • Strategic Context • Overview - The Consultative and Research Process • Review of CCIMU Options Analysis Workshop Key Takeaway Points Session 2: Business Plan - Vision, Mission, Strategic Priorities, and Actions: • Overarching Vision for the CCIMU • Mission of the CCIMU • Priority Areas: Sectors, Cross-Cutting Opportunities, Challenges to Overcome • Priority Work Streams • Key Performance Indicators Session 3: Business Plan - Governance, Financing, Sustainability, and Risk: • Governance and Management Model Options • Potential Funding/Revenue Streams • Sustainability Considerations • Gender and Culturally Sensitive Approach • Monitoring and Evaluation The overall purpose of the CCIMU is to address the needs of the regional creative sector, while fostering creativity, further developing businesses, creating opportunities and improving trade and ensuring that the rights and obligations of stakeholders are respected and legally protected. In the initial stages, the CCIMU shall address the following creative sectors: fashion, music, animation and festivals. Specifically the CCIMU has the following objectives: • To collect and increase the availability of data on the creative industries • To increase access to finance for creative sector SMEs • To enhance trade and export development within the regional creative industries sector • To facilitate the registration and protection of the Intellectual Property of Caribbean SMEs With the development of the CCIMU the creative industries in the Region will become more competitive and attract investment to the Region and the sector in particular.

In January 2015 Caribbean Export announced the inaugural awards programme, the Caribbean Exporter of the Year Awards (CEYA), in recognition of the contributionmade by the regions exporters to the regional economy. The Award seeks to foster and strengthen a greater export culture throughout the Caribbean by giving significant recognition to the winners and sending a strong message to current and potential buyers, investors or other stakeholders that these exporters are market leaders and successful business persons. Specifically, the CEYA gives recognition to SMEs that have demonstrated an ability to achieve exporting success as demonstrated primarily through export volumes, diversity of export markets and sound export strategies and action plans. The CEYA provides awards in six categories includingEmergingExporteroftheYear; Young Exporter of the Year; Female Exporter of the Year; Green Exporter of the Year; Caribbean Exporter of the Year; and a Special Award for Excellence in Services Exports. The Awards were held on April 16, 2015 in Jamaica as a part of the activities for the 3rd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum. During the event, Trinidad and Tobago-based beauty brand claimed the accolade of Caribbean Exporter of the Year from a field of nine nominees. Sacha Cosmetics commenced business 35 years ago and is currently distributed in 23 countries and sold online in North

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