The Caribbean Virtual E-Commerce Accelerator Programme (VEAP) was a 15-month programme implemented by Caribbean Export with funding provided by Expertise France under the auspices of the Digital REsponse Connecting CiTizens Programme (DIRECCT) – a joint initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OEACP) and the European Union. The programme began in September 2022 and concluded in December 2023.
VEAP aimed to build the capacity of Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and firms to adopt e-Commerce technologies and processes, leading to broader and more effective market reach, customer engagement, and export sales.
Specifically, this initiative:
- Trained Caribbean firms and BSOs in eCommerce strategy and operations
- Equipped the BSOs with eCommerce coaching skills
- Provided BSOs and firms with the tools needed to implement their eCommerce strategies
At the end of the second cohort, a total of:
- 235 companies were trained and coached with the assistance of the programme, 79% of which were women-owned businesses.
- The programme funded access and onboarding of 61 businesses onto three regional online marketplaces: ShopCaribe, GetPaid, and Ethniv.
These 61 businesses now have fully functional online stores reaching new customers, increasing sales and exports, and contributing to the advancement of the regional e-commerce ecosystem.
