Implementation of the 10th EDF Regional Provate Sector Programme

ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTING INNOVATION

of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, which would facilitatetheirpursuitof business opportunities in these markets. The Manufacturing Study Tour was held in June 2012, and visited Manchester, UK; Hamburg, Germany; and Paris, France with 23 participants from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Suriname, in attendance. The Cultural Industries Study Tour visited Manchester, UK; Berlin, Germany; and Paris, France in July 2012, and saw 22 representatives from Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago participating. Several members of the Study Tour contingent were able to realise success as a result of their participation in the tour. For the full list of Study Tour participants please refer to Annex 4 of this report. In Export conceptualized the London Engage initiative as the platform to launch Caribbean businesses into the European market. In addition to using the Summer Olympic Games as the optimal setting to showcase the talent and opportunities available within an integrated Caribbean, the Agency also sought to demonstrate the region’s potential for investment, expansion, and diversified growth. London 2012, Caribbean London Engage

Engage, Caribbean Export’s first multi-sectoral mission to Europe, sought to build on a series of regional private sector export development initiatives that were previously implemented or supported by Caribbean Export. Four sectors were identified as having a competitive advantage for the region; namely Agro- processing, Creative Industries, Professional Services and Sports; and these were exhibited through a succession of activities such as Caribbean Design Showcase, Caribbean Essence Showcase, Caribbean Kitchen, Soul Fusion, and the screening of the regional sports documentary Built to Last. Additionally, London Engage was seen as a premiere occasion to introduce regional businesses to investors in the UK, through two seminal activities, Break Point and the 2nd CARIFORUM- EU Business Forum. In the lead up to London, Caribbean Export also facilitated the participation of CARIFORUM firms in two European Study Tours for the Manufacturing and Creative Industries to France, Germany, and the UK. These Study Tours also served as the precursor to the 2nd CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum. A total 171 firms benefited from Caribbean Export’s engagement of Europe, including entrepreneurs, SMEs, BSOs, and public sector agencies. Combined, these initiatives not only exposed regional businesses to opportunities within the European market, but also unveiled the uniqueness and authenticity of the Caribbean brand to the rest of the world, while providing a much-needed jumpstart to the utilisation of the EPA signed by CARIFORUM and the EU. For the full list of London Engage participants please refer to Annex 5 of this report. As apart of CaribbeanExport’s LondonEngage initiative, theworkof three regional architects was on display at the Caribbean Design Showcase at the University of Westminster in London, during the London International Architecture and Design Showcase, which presented insights, architecture and designs from 46 countries. The Caribbean showcase, organised in collaboration with the British Council, featured a 3D projection of regional architects’ designs, as well as a wall-to-wall photo display of traditional uses of indigenous earth friendly building materials in home construction. Running from June 28 - July 15, 2012, the showcase saw participation from Talma Mills Studio (Barbados/Trinidad and Tobago), Amonle Studios (Barbados) and the Caribbean Office of Co-operative Architecture (Grenada). The photos used in the Heritage Photo Display were submitted by VIVIDARCH (Belize). The Caribbean Design Showcase also provided a unique opportunity for pioneering Caribbean architects to be a part of a global debate about architecture and design, exploring the relationship between the built environment and cultural, technological and environmental change. Participating architects attended at least five B2B meetings with members of the Architectural community in the UK, as well as gained a deeper understanding Caribbean Design Showcase - Architecture

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