Implementation of the 10th EDF Regional Provate Sector Programme

STRENGTHENING CARIBBEAN EXPORT’S INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY

PRIVATE SECTOR ADVISORY GROUP In March 2013, Caribbean Export convened the inaugural meeting of its Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) in Barbados. The meeting took the form of a roundtable discussion on how best the private sector can play a role in the economic development of the region. The overall objective of PSAG is to ensure that the delivery of Caribbean Export’s programme is relevant to the region’s exporters and by extension the private sector. The specific objectives of this Group are to: A total of 280 representatives from regional and international firms participated in both events. Overall, 78%ofColloquiumparticipantsbelieved that the initiative met or exceeded their expectations, with 86% believing that the event would strengthen networking and improve the region’s productivity and competitiveness. • Advise on the overall strategic direction of the Agency; • Advise on the delivery of the Agency’s programmes, including but not limited to the 10th EDF RPSDP; • Advise on the current challenges affecting private sector growth, Special attention was further paid to branding and intellectual property rights, the highly debatable question of whether the private sector should seek to innovate or imitate, transportation and shipping challenges, access to finance, and the identification of non- traditional platforms for funding.

paying particular attention to export related issues; • Advise on the areas of focus for future Caribbean Export programmes; • Provide comments and guidance on how to improve existing mode and content of programmes that are offered by Caribbean Export; and • Provide recommendations on future export markets for CARIFORUM goods and services. Members of the PSAG also attended the Regional Workshop of the Caribbean Growth Forum in the Bahamas in June 2013 and a consultation meeting on Defining Key Positions and Recommendations on Private Sector Support in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries held in Brussels, Belgium in November 2013. Following the first PSAG meeting, Caribbean Export developed a TOR for the re-engagement of public-private sector dialogue. The resulting consultancy examined the state of the private-public sector dialogue in the CARIFORUM region with a view to drafting a roadmap for the best way forward. During the second staging of the PSAG held in November 2014 in Barbados. The members were given the opportunity to hear presentations and provide feedback and recommendations on the work that Caribbean Export is undertaking in regional private sector development. Specifically, the PSAG members reviewed and discussed the following: • Matrix on the Implementation Status of Issues Discussed at PSAG Meeting - March 2013 • TOR Governing the PSAG • TOR for the Development of a Business Plan for a Not-for-Profit arm of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Concept Note for Caribbean Export Incorporated (CE Inc.) • CARICOM-CARIFORUM Public-Private Sector Dialogue: A Roadmap for Re Engagement • Draft Strategic Plan for Caribbean Export Members present also discussed many of the challenges and issues facing the private sector including regional transport, access to non-traditional financing, market agility for competitiveness and to attract investment, the role of the private sector in trade negotiations, joint warehousing, building trust among the private sector, and regional branding among others. Following the deliberations, Caribbean Export agreed to initiate the process for the validation of the Caribbean Business Council (CBC), and continue the follow up action necessary for the building out of concept to establish CE Inc. For the full list of PSAG members please refer to Annex 8 of this report.

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