Implementation of the 10th EDF Regional Provate Sector Programme

PROMOTING TRADE AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT

An alumni survey conducted at the end of 2014 revealed that of the 50 BSOs surveyed, 72% were satisfied with the trade and business intelligence services provided by Caribbean Export, and that Caribbean Export has contributed to 53% of their client firms being able to access new markets through the market intelligence received. In-Market Research and Profiling Mission to Cuba Within the framework of the 10th EDF RPSDP and the Haiti-Dominican Republic Bi-National Programme, Caribbean Export undertook an in- market research and profiling mission to Cuba from September 14-16, 2015. The objective of the mission was to gather information on the current opportunities in the Cuban market for regional exporters under the current trading environment. In particular, the mission was designed to extrapolate qualitative information from key in market sources that support commerce, and the entities involved in the commercial sector. Information was gathered as it relates to: the nature and volume of trade with Cuba; common business practices in the country; market access issues; best practice examples of accessing the Cuban market; export facilitation support need to access the market; standards and packaging requirements; sectors or products that are forecasted to have major growth in the short, medium and long term, changing consumer consumption

patterns of Cubans and the complimentary regional products in supplying these tastes; major supply markets; sub-regions and cities in Cuba with the greatest potential of regional goods; changing distribution structure in the Cuban market; the importance of price in the new Cuban economy; the finance regime for trade; Cuban interests in accessing specific regional products and services; the opportunity for further collaboration between Cuba and CARIFORUM; and regional investment promotion. Benefits of the mission include knowledge on in-market information partners in Cuba that can form a wider trade and business information network in the region, a clearer vision on the work programme to be employed to further strengthen the ties with CARIFORUM and Cuba, and detailed insights into the trade and business environment in the country. Under the 10th EDF RPSDP Caribbean Export delivered a series of Market Intelligence Training workshops across seven CARIFORUM States in 2014 and 2015. The aim of this intervention was to provide training for private sector firms on the use of various market intelligence platforms and databases, which are available for conducting market research, with support from trained technical experts from BSOs including TPOs, and national trade export promotion agencies (TEPAs) as seen below. Market Intelligence Training

BSO PROVIDING SUPPORT DURING MARKET INTELLIGENCE TRAINING

INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY

COUNTRY

Barbados Belize

Small Business Association (SBA) Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) OECS Export Development Unit (EDU) Dominican Association of Exporters (ADOEXPO)

Dominica Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Haiti St. Lucia

National Free Zone Council (NFZC) National Statistical Office (ONE)

Haiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) National Export Facilitation Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (ExporTT)

Trinidad and Tobago

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