The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT

3.16.1 | CARIBBEAN EXPORT

As an inter-governmental organisation, Caribbean Export has amandate to build the export competitiveness of CARIFORUM private sector businesses including agro-processing, the creative industries of music, fashion, animation and craft. While the RE businesses also fall within their purview, RE products and services may themselves be a key to increasing the competitiveness of most other businesses; much like how Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have been a key to these businesses in the past. Notwithstanding their full support for this study, they observe other concerns in the RE industry including the need for: - • Technical development • Stronger investment in RE by manufacturing and other productive sectors • Adequate risk management

• Internal capacity building for key stakeholder groups • Addressing cultural considerations in implementation • Better support for MSMEs to compete with large firms • Appropriate financing for project development • More training for stakeholders and practitioners • Partnership development amongst MSMEs

In addition to training and capacity building opportunities which are offered to MSMEs, there are also opportunities for companies to benefit from grants to assist them in executing their business plans. This is administered at specific times through a call for proposals.

3.16.2 | CROSQ As anentityunderCARICOM,CROSQhas amandate todevelopandharmonize regional quality infrastructure for trade, safety and protection, and the environment amongst other areas. As a result, partnerships exist with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). In the past 5 years, CROSQ has become more active in the area of Quality Infrastructure for energy in the region including: -

• Solar Water Heating (SWH) • Photovoltaic (PV) technology • Laboratory accreditation • National policies • Value chain assessment • Meteorology • Energy efficiency building codes

• Appliance Testing • Labelling standards CROSQ has indicated the need for more partnership development in the region.

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The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries