Implementation of the 10th EDF Regional Provate Sector Programme

ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTING INNOVATION

Havana International Fair

from Jamaica, whose participation was coordinated by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), was also present at the Fair. The Dominican companies were primarily from the beauty and cosmetics sector whereas the Haitian private sector participant represented the textile manufacturing and handicraft industries. A series of B2B meetings were also coordinated by the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, and provided participants with the opportunity to meet with institutional buyers to offer their products and establish commercial ties. Caribbean Export also sponsored the participation of institutional partners under the Bi- National Programme the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), CEI-RD, MIC, and CCIH. Representatives fromthese institutions were able to support their stakeholders by promoting individual sectors and their national export product offerings and establishing relationships with their counterparts in Cuba. In 2015, the Agency supported 11 firms in showcasing at the trade fair. CaribbeanExportorganisedthemission with the aim of providing the selected CARIFORUM firms with access to buyers in the Cuba in order to increase exports to that market; furnishing information and practical experience doing business in the Cuban market; and delivering significant insight into newtrendsandemergingopportunities in the Cuban market. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the beneficiaries reported meeting the targets of increased knowledge

Caribbean Export’s support to the participation of regional firms in the annual hosting of the Havana International Fair (FIHAV), under the 10th EDF RPSDP focuses on creating business opportunities between Cuba and CARIFORUM member states in order to promote the sectors that are readily positioned within a global trade context. The Agency also provides the necessary discussion platform to take on specific trade-related issues of business between the two territories. In this regard, Caribbean Export partners with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce for B2B matching with selected companies. FIHAV is the largest annual multi-sector trade fair in Cuba, and is held during the first week of November. The event welcomes over 4,500 exhibits from 60 countries. The pavilion grounds, inaugurated in 1989, consist of 25 separate buildings on approximately 20,000 square meters located at the ExpoCuba fairgrounds site on the outskirts of Havana. FIHAV is an event organised by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment of the Republic of Cuba, the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, the Conventions Palace and ExpoCuba. This multi-sector commercial fair covers industry sectors such as consumer goods, machinery, equipment, information technology, raw materials and services. For the 2012 edition, a delegation of 14 CARIFORUM firms from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Suriname participated in the Trade Fair. Caribbean Export’s participation in FIHAV 2012, focused on creating business opportunities between Cuba and CARIFORUM member states in order to promote the sectors that are readily positioned within a global trade context. The Agency also provided the necessary discussion platform to take on specific trade-related issues that business between Cuba and the rest of the CARIFORUM member states. In this regard, Caribbean Export has partnered with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce to a Business-to-Business matching with selected companies. In 2013, the Agency supported the participation of 13 regional firms from Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Saint Lucia in attending and showcasing at FIHAV. With a focus on creating business opportunities between Cuban buyers and CARIFORUM SMEs in order to promote the sectors that are readily positioned within a global trade context, the Agency again provided the necessary platform to discuss trade between Cuba CARIFORUM States, with support from the Cuban Chamber of Commerce in host business matchmaking sessions. Caribbean Export facilitated the participation of 10 firms from the Dominican Republic and Haiti during the 2014 hosting of the event within the framework of the 10th EDF Haiti-Dominican Republic Bi-National Programme. One company

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