In the early 1980s, chemist Josefina Pujols de Lomba created a formula for a shampoo and hair conditioner at the request of the owners of the Los Divinos salon she frequented. The products were so well received by the clientele that other beauty centers wanted to purchase them. Little by little, the reputation of what later became a family business was strengthened, with several lines of personal care products and a positioning abroad, to where it exports around 60% of its production.

At the head of the company are José Antonio Lomba and Daniel Lomba, sons of Doña Josefina, who grew up involved in the process of creation and evolution of the company. “While our schoolmates were at summer camps, we had to make time to go to the company to pack products,” says Daniel Lomba, commercial and financial manager.

The company was founded in 1983 with a catalog of hair care and beauty products sold in stores and supermarkets, both for the general public and for a more professional profile such as beauty salons. Years of sacrifice, dedication and perseverance forged the solid foundations of a firm that has become synonymous with quality and prestige in the Dominican Republic and in export destinations, with ISO-9001 certifications on Quality Management System for more than 10 years, with presence in Haiti, Panama, Puerto Rico, Miami, New York and New Jersey, with goals of expanding the export market.

Towards excellence

Innovation is an inherent characteristic of Capilo’s managers. After an internal analysis, they identified a category with potential for success: essential oils. Rosemary, avocado and almond were the first to be presented to the public at one of the beauty fairs held by an important commercial center in the country. Currently, they have more than a dozen essential oils in their catalog. They have already conquered an important part of this market niche.

Within the framework of the Trade and Support to the Private Sector component of the Haiti/Dominican Republic Binational Cooperation Program financed under the 11th European Development Fund and implemented by Caribbean Export, Capilo received technical assistance to obtain ISO2 2716 Good Manufacturing Practices certification. “We thought that since we had ISO-9001 it would be easy, but this certification is different, very challenging, but we are doing well and we will achieve it,” explains Daniel Lomba. ISO 2716 ensures the control of risks associated with cosmetic products, thereby managing quality and safety compliance throughout the product supply chain. The certification includes guidelines, in addition to production, for the control, storage and shipment of products to the final consumer. This certification will allow greater access to international markets, such as Europe, a destination that is among Capilo’s objectives.

Caribbean Export’s support includes the donation of an electric forklift and an automatic labeling machine. The labeling machine will be part of a packaging line that the company purchased abroad. Currently, it has accelerated the process, with faster labeling, thus making delivery times more efficient, allowing it to design sales strategies for the objective of expanding its presence in the international market.

“The forklift was super necessary for the organization of the warehouses, the speed of dispatches and to be able to make deliveries faster. The storage area of the company has opportunities to take advantage of the use of vertical space. Thus, the team has contributed to an optimization of shelf space and proper sorting by designing a flow that reduces time wasted on unnecessary trips and an efficient inventory management system. These assets have resulted in an increase of around 25% in production, according to Lomba.

Capilo is part of the Dominican Cluster of Beauty Products, and since 2000 has focused on strengthening a business structure whose mission is to offer products and services of the highest quality. The brands include the hair care lines Capilo, Capilo PRO, Capilo Kids, and a line created for the men’s sector, District Gentleman.

The company’s strong foundation, combined with a conservative lifestyle vision, worked in Capilo’s favor during the difficult times of the pandemic. The company’s specialized division for the formulation and creation of local and international third-party brands also contributed to the company’s structure. “At that difficult time for the country, we were fortunate that we had a brand of antibacterial gel in our customer portfolio, and that allowed us to weather the crisis.”

Due to its history and trajectory, Capilo products, especially those for hair care, are part of the Dominican female population’s imagination; the innovative vision to evolve in the continuous improvement of its products, as well as the development of the graphic line and marketing strategy to meet the demand of the tastes and needs of the new generations, contribute to the strengthening of this dynamic economic sector of the country, therefore, to sustainable economic development, as well as the projection of the quality of the country brand in foreign lands.

Capilo has received several awards, including the Industrial Excellence Award from the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, 1999, in the category of quality for small industry; Recognition from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, for its business trajectory; and Exporter of the Year, awarded by the European Union in 2019.

In just a few years, Makaya Chocolat has become “THE” chocolatier in Haiti. Present in all gourmet stalls, as well as at fairs and online, the collection owes its success to its high quality taste, but also to the personality of its creator, Ralph Leroy, who steers the brand’s image and digital career.

It was probably at the Salon du Chocolat de Montréal in 2013 that the genesis of Makaya was established. At the time, founder Ralph Leroy was a fashion designer, invited as he has been every year since 2009 to create a collection of accessories… in chocolate!

From aesthetic inspiration to chocolate production, it was an ocean to cross, for this native of Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti. But his interest in cocoa turned into a passion, and gradually took the place of fashion. In 2015, on his chosen soil, he met the Fédération des coopératives cacaoyères du Nord, Feccano. “It’s a common misconception that chocolate is only made in Europe. But why not work with chocolate right here in Haiti?” Leroy was astonished when, in 2016, he set up a laboratory and carried out his first cocoa bean selection and roasting.

From Italy to Trinidad

The Makaya brand is launched with a wide range of aromas and flavors, including fleur de sel and coffee. The reception was spectacular, but our creator felt limited by his technical shortcomings. How do you keep your chocolate shiny? He would need to master “tempering”, a decisive step in making chocolate. Leroy contacted chocolate makers in Montreal, but didn’t convince anyone to come to Haiti. In 2018, he decided to go to Italy to learn how to tame this precious material. ” In the end, it was the best option: to acquire the skills myself and be able to pass them on, rather than receive them from experts who, once my team had been formed, would leave…”confides Ralph Leroy.

After six months’ training in Italy and a sculpture masterclass in Chicago, Ralph completed his world tour as an apprentice in Trinidad to master the part of making chocolate from the bean. Back in his homeland, Ralph Leroy began producing tablets from beans supplied by Feccano. The launch on the Haitian market was a rapid success thanks to word-of-mouth and local fairs, but the real success of the brand came from social networks, the chocolate maker’s marketing tool par excellence.

Social networks and online sales

Makaya takes on a new dimension with the opening of an original outlet in Pétion-Ville, combining laboratory and tasting room, and hosting events. The chocolate workshop provides both team training and fun workshops for children, teenagers and adults. Despite the COVID pandemic, 2020 is a good year thanks to the website, which is starting to generate sales. A dispatch center has been set up in Miami to deliver orders for the United States, and another in Montreal for Canada. 40% of production is exported, boosted by his dynamic social networking strategy: Ralph Leroy doesn’t just promote Makaya, he creates digital conversations around chocolate, bringing in professionals and celebrities and opening up the discussion threads to all chocolate lovers. In the same year, the brand went on sale at the airport duty-free shop, adding to those in supermarkets and high-end boutiques. With the processing of the beans, Makaya signs the first range of Haitian chocolates “from bean to bar”, From bean to bar. A source of national pride!

Strong local recognition

In February 2022, Makaya took part in an exchange of best practices organized by Caribbean Export with Dominican companies. This mission on Dominican cocoa promotion and marketing strategy, production and processing techniques, and organizational management mechanisms implemented by CONACADO, will mark the start of a collaboration with Definite Chocolate.

The Dominican Republic’s chocolatier and Haiti’s chocolatier join forces in a creative partnership proposed as part of the gastronomy component of the “Binational Cultural Dialogue” supported by the European Union. The two master chocolatiers have joined forces to create a collection that reflects their island: the Quisqueya collection. With the support of Caribbean Export, the collection takes shape with three different chocolates and an original packaging. It was first presented to a large audience at the Dominican Chocolate Festival in July, then at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris the following autumn.

In December 2022, Makaya is also participating in the Capacity Building Program for the new European Organic Regulation in cooperation with ITC for the beneficiary companies of the HT-DR bi-national cocoa value chain project implemented by Caribbean Export.

Haitian chocolate on tour!

In 7 years, Makaya has created 15 products, processed a ton of beans and can be found in some 15 sales outlets in Haiti and abroad. Its online sales capacity now accounts for 40-50% of sales, thanks to 100% digital promotion and marketing.

Makaya has plans to open a boutique chocolate factory-tasting room in Cap Haïtien and another in Montréal, but the situation in Haiti has put the chocolatier’s economy and ambitions on hold. His workshop has shrunk from 23 people to 7, but fortunately, foreign sales are saving the day: 90%, 80%, 70%, 65% or 45% dark chocolates, white chocolates, almond, cappuccino, 42% Expresso, 65% Latte, and recently, a special edition, the Héritage bar, all find their fans. And Makaya 100% cocoa, the basis for its famous hot chocolate, remains the star product in the chocolate lounge. The founder of Makaya spares no tour and hosts a host of events around Haiti in Miami, New York, Washington and Montreal. Chocolate desserts, activities, workshops, conferences… Ralph Leroy has become a true ambassador for Haitian chocolate. He hopes to take part in the Salon du Chocolat in Paris next October and present his new 2023 product, Makaya coffee beans and ground coffee, due for release next autumn. As he puts it, ” with Makaya, Haitian chocolate goes on tour!

Originally from the Amazon jungle area, cocoa was introduced in the Dominican Republic by Spanish colonizers at the end of the 16th century, reaching our days as a crop of transcendental importance, not only in economic terms, but also as part of the Dominican gastronomic culture.

Although it is true that by the middle of the 19th century the Dominican Republic was already exporting a significant amount of cocoa, it was not until the 1990s that its production took a qualitative leap that has placed the country as one of the main global exporters of organic cocoa, with 60% of the world’s export volume.

Pioneers in organic cocoa exports

The National Confederation of Dominican Cocoa Growers (CONACADO) has been a key factor in the development of the production of this important sector of our economy. It is an entity that emerged in the mid-1980s in the context of an international project promoted by the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), aimed at achieving better post-harvest management of Dominican cocoa, adding value to the production chain, particularly aroma and flavor conditions that would allow it to be placed in international markets in better conditions to compete.

According to Abel Fernandez, commercial manager of CONACADO, the success of this association lies in having structured a cooperative model that “provided the producer groups with logistical and financial capabilities so that they could among themselves, as a group, buy the production, the volumes they had already improved, and eventually be able to exhibit commercial volumes, because cocoa, after all, is a commodity, and in order to access the market you must ensure that you are a consistent supplier in terms of volume and quality”.

Pioneers in organic exports, CONACADO has the merit of having opened the doors of the European market to Dominican cocoa. It currently has a membership of more than 9 thousand cocoa farmers and 49.8% of the national production of organic cocoa.

New challenges for producers

As cocoa production techniques have evolved, so has the international market. New international standards and regulations have posed an enormous challenge for local producers.

One of these regulations has been the new European Union regulation on “Imported Deforestation”, which means that in the medium term, products from farms that have been cleared after 2020, especially cocoa and coffee, will not be allowed to enter Europe.

This regulation entails tough requirements for producers in terms of traceability and monitoring of deforestation. “Those who cannot guarantee that their exportable supply comes from sources that have not affected the environment will not be able to export to the European Union,” says Abel Fernandez.

Caribbean Export’s helping hand

Although CONACADO’s relationship with Caribbean Export dates back to the beginning of this century, it is in recent years that it has become closer.

Fernandez says that “we have always worked a lot with international agencies; we have served as a laboratory, as a school for many initiatives and project proposals. Caribbean Export has always taken us into account when new project proposals appear, when opportunities open up.

“In the framework of cooperation with Caribbean Export, we have received a lot of support on issues that help us to improve, to get up to date in aspects related to international trade and compliance with new regulations and legislation that are coming out all the time in the European Union,” said Fernandez.

In October of last year, CONACADO, together with Caribbean Export, participated in the Salon du Chocolat Paris 2022, an event that gave the entire value chain the opportunity to establish new relationships and renew contacts with existing customers, while promoting the organization and its offer to the European market.

A similar experience took place in February of this year, during participation in the BIOFACH International Organic Products Fair in Germany.

As part of the actions to support the Haiti-DR binational Cocoa/Chocolate value chain, which are being carried out with funds from the 11th Annual Haiti-DR Cocoa/Chocolate Summit, the Haiti-RD Cocoa/Chocolate Value Chain is being supported with funds from the 11th Annual Haiti-DR Cocoa/Chocolate Summit. European Development Fund (EDF), within the framework of the trade and private sector support component of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Program, Caribbean Export has supported the producers of CONACADO with a project that provides equipment and georeferencing training that allows the European Union to monitor cocoa farms by satellite to certify that their production model does not affect the environment.

“Thanks to the timely cooperation of Caribbean Export, we can say that we are one of the few organizations in the world that are taking important steps forward to be prepared for the changes imposed by the new times,” concludes CONACADO’s commercial manager.

According to Jaime Gómez, technical director of CONACADO, the georeferencing project provided by Caribbean Export has impacted 459 farms, representing 38,500 georeferenced tareas of land, in the provinces of Monseñor Nouel and Monte Plata. “In Bonao the georeferencing has been complete, impacting more than 200 producers. In Monte Plata we missed some farms. This motivated us to continue georeferencing the remaining farms on our own, until we reach our goal of 100%, which is the requirement of the European Union’s clients,” explained Gómez.

Since 2017, AYITIKA has been developing an original, competitive model for producing cocoa, then chocolate. This promise, born of the combined ambition and expertise of agronomist Jean-Chesnel Jean and supported by Caribbean Export, today ensures the future of 2,000 rural families and the production of quality chocolate.

Jean-Chesnel was born in Abricots, in the Grande Anse region of southern Haiti. Trained as an agronomist, he specialized in Economics and Sociology at the Faculté Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux. Fundamentally interested in sustainable development, he has worked in various agricultural sectors and traveled to the world’s largest basin of quality cocoa, in Latin America. This enabled him to appreciate Haiti’s potential and understand that cocoa could be a sustainable and competitive project.

Haiti is capable!

In Creole, “Ayiti ka” means “Haiti can”. Haiti is capable… And that’s what led Jean-Chesnel to set up his own company, based on a special model. ” Cocoa is a highly competitive market. To carve out a place for itself in this international market, it was necessary to find a lasting, credible solution: a technical model. “.

While historically in Haiti, cocoa has tended to be grown in the North and Grande Anse, AYITIKA has chosen to develop new terroirs in the South, Southeast and Nippes, given their agroecological potential. From the outset, the company initiated a technical approach in collaboration with CIRAD. On the basis of aroma, disease resistance and productivity criteria, it pre-selected 250 “elite” cocoa trees from the remnants of cocoa plantations in these terroirs. After 2 years of observation, 98 of these – the most reliable – have been cloned by grafting. They are kept in genetic banks as part of the country’s heritage, then multiplied in nurseries for distribution to rural families.

Creating a new class of cocoa farmers

Once the raw material and its genetics had been mastered, it was time to create a high-performance, sustainable model. Ayitika collaborated with Costa Rica’s CATIE to train a dozen young people in technical management and cocoa-based agroforestry systems.

“AYITIKA promotes the Creole garden invented by the Haitian slave,” recalls the agronomist.. “A plot of land on which various crops are planted to ensure year-round food security. Over time, this production model proves to be the most resilient.

The Fondation Connaissance et Liberté, FOKAL, will support the model with a back-to-the-land project, enabling some thirty young people in the Camp-Perrin area to supplement their income. Then a UN-Environment agroforestry program and other players took an interest, purchasing both Ayitika’s technical services and the inputs produced (quality cocoa seedlings, biofertilizers, biopesticides, fruit and forest seedlings) to support rural families.

Today, Ayitika works with 2,000 producers, managing 600 hectares of cocoa gardens. Beyond the technical dimension, Ayitika develops social and economic innovations to ensure the sustainability of the model. Partner growers are grouped together in a farmers’ association called RASIN (French for root). In this way, the company maintains a strategic partnership that facilitates the co-construction of innovations, the adoption of good farming practices by rural families, the traceability of cocoa, respect for quality standards and fair remuneration of farmers.

From root… to to the shelf

In 2021, with the first pods and the support of Caribbean Export, the chocolate factory project is born. Ayitika first turned to Belgium for knowledge and expertise in cocoa fermentation and processing. ” On the global market, those who make money are not the producers of raw materials, but those who can produce added value,” reminds the Ayitika designer.

With the help of Caribbean Export, Ayitika can now develop its new ” From root to bar ” approach. The agency finances a consultant to set up a quality and processing laboratory and train the company’s technical staff to use and manage it. The first of its kind in Haiti, this laboratory will benefit the country’s entire cocoa value chain. The project also enables us to communicate on the quality of our cocoa and bring more direct added value to producers.

2022, an important turning point for Ayitika

In February 2022, Ayitika will take part in the exchange of best practices organized by Caribbean Export with Dominican companies. The mission, which will focus on the Dominican cocoa promotion and marketing strategy, production and processing techniques and organizational management mechanisms implemented by CONACADO, will also give Ayitika the opportunity to get closer to Definite chocolate. The Dominican brand has agreed to take on a Haitian trainee to share its know-how, in particular with regard to compliance with procedures and the preparation of aroma profiles.

Armed with all this experience, Aytika developed four flavors and launched its own brand. In November 2022, with the support of Caribbean Export, the young chocolaterie will take part in the Paris chocolate fair. Its Haitian-made tablets – although Haiti is usually a supplier of raw materials for French companies – have been a great success. “There isn ‘t just one chocolate from Haiti, there are as many as there are terroirs,” explains Jean Chesnel.

Ayitika wins the “Médaille Gourmet Paris”!

This experience enabled Ayitika to see how people reacted to its products, and also to make contact with distributors in Europe. It also took part in the^3rd ” Chocolats fabriqués à l’origine” competition, organized by the Agence pour la Valorisation des Produits Agricoles (AVPA.ft ), and was awarded the ” Médaille Gourmet Paris“.

The year 2022 ended with the participation of the young chocolate company in a training session organized by the Capacity Building Program for the new European Organic Regulation in cooperation with the ITC for beneficiary companies of the HT-DR bi-national cocoa value chain project. This training, supported by Caribbean Export, focused on raising awareness of the new EU legislation requirements, which call for greater standardization of production systems in cocoa gardens and the marketing (traceability, packaging, transport) of the company’s products.

All these skills and knowledge have been added to the brand’s early successes, enabling Ayitika to look forward to 2023 with confidence, promoting a quality product that is traceable, ready to export and, above all, truly fair trade and biodiversity-friendly.

*CIRAD: Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (French agricultural research and international cooperation organization for the sustainable development of tropical regions).

Photo: Marc Lee Steed

During a crowded gathering, Caribbean Export inaugurated the first Dominican-Haitian craft exhibition, “Symbiosis,” in an event attended by prominent personalities from various fields and representatives from the Delegation of the European Union in Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The exhibition, was open to the public from June 23rd to 25^th, 2023  at Quinta Dominica, Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo, DR. The collection is curated by Anny Abatte and showcased the work of artisans who have created a proposal incorporating indigenous raw materials from the island.

“We have been in the Dominican Republic for over 26 years, supported by the European Union, developing private sector support programs throughout the Caribbean. Since 2012, we have been implementing the private sector trade component in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Caribbean Export is a resource for all SMEs and anyone wishing to create export potential,” highlighted Leo Naut, Deputy Executive Director of Caribbean Export Development Agency.

Furthermore, he explained that “Symbiosis” is born as part of the implementation of the trade and private sector component of the Binational Cooperation Program between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, financed by the European Union under the eleventh European Development Fund (EDF).

Through the value chains they are creating, the craft sector currently involves a number of beneficiary companies from both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, helping them develop synergies that enable potential co-promotion and co-production. This promotes craftsmanship as an economic development driver with the aim of exporting their talent and creations to the world.

It is worth noting that the selection of artisans for “Symbiosis” was made through a call for entries in collaboration with the Office of the Managing Authority for European Funds and Development in Haiti (BONFED), the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPYD), the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MICM), and the National School of Art of Haiti (ENARTS). Sixteen Dominican and Haitian artisans were chosen to be part of this first edition.

This project has also created a binational dialogue space where artisans from both countries have been able to collaborate on design, learn about the materials and techniques used by each other, and exchange good practices. Additionally, it is projected as a brand and collection, while simultaneously launching two Craft Clusters in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which will own the brand, giving it sustainability.

This first collection will include a digital catalog and an online sales platform featuring all available pieces. It will also showcase the artisans who created them, along with their contact information, allowing direct communication with the artists for those interested in acquiring a piece.

On the Dominican side, amber and larimar prevail in the creations, while the Haitian pieces incorporate malachite, blue malachite, jasper, and breccia. Some pieces also incorporate horn and bone waste, as well as coconut fragments.

Furthermore, curator and fashion designer Anny Abatte took on this challenge, showcasing the unity, commitment, and creativity of two nations marked by their histories and skillfully combining their objectives.

“The Dominican Republic and Haiti, united through art, showcase a range of handmade jewelry, demonstrating the coexistence not only of their creators but also their gems, metals, techniques, among others. This promotes development, entrepreneurship, and an economic impact that is revealed in the value chain, boosting Caribbean art. This proposal highlights sustainability and an environmentally friendly approach,” she stated.

Meet the artisans

“Symbiosis” features the following exhibitors:

Tipik Creations, born in Haiti, designs fashion accessories and home goods under its own brand, Olga-Nora Lerebours. Inspired by nature and characterized by complex shapes and structures, they embrace sustainability and represent the essence of Haitian culture and identity through clean designs with abstract elements that reflect African and Taíno heritage in each handcrafted piece with fluidity, balance, and elegance.

Emmanuel Saincilus, born in Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, is an artist who has surpassed the boundaries of insularity, participating in various important exhibitions both within his country and abroad, specifically in the United States and Brazil. His designs possess great delicacy and perfection, narrating the diversity of Caribbean culture through the fine selection of materials and subtle lines of design.

Michel Chataigne, one of the most well-known Haitian stylists, has attracted the most discerning women to his beauty salon for 33 years. He launched his own beauty product brand, his cosmetology school (Institute Michel Hair Design – 1998), a modeling agency (Fashion & Design – 1999), and a fashion line that includes clothing, handbags, shoes/sandals, and accessories. Haitian cultural heritage and African influence are present in his pieces, which combine ancestral Haitian craftsmanship techniques with avant-garde elements and symmetry in design.

Garibaldi Baptiste, born in Pétion-Ville, is passionate about Haitian culture and Vodou. His pieces show that his source of inspiration comes from a blend of African art with elements of Taíno heritage. The fusion of cultures is perceived in the choice of materials and the symbolic significance of elements within the artisanal design, contrasting with simple, elegant, and clean lines that seek to reconstruct the essence of the cultural legacy of the insular Caribbean.

Fabulous Living, a Haitian company specializing in handmade furniture design and home accessories, provides a unique combination of skills in interior design, product design, international development, and business management. It takes pride in partnering with local artisans to ensure the survival of traditional Haitian techniques, sharing knowledge, and preserving Haiti’s cultural heritage.

Régine Tesserot Fabius, “Heritage” collection. The simplicity of elegance is manifested through the use of materials inherent to Haitian artisanal tradition combined with modern and classic elements that bring beauty and warmth.

Ariel Fabius and the “Dancing Taino” collection. This collection conveys the joy and magical vision of the essence of Taíno art in each piece, combined with gold and larimar, evoking the majesty of a legacy that is an essential part of the island’s culture.

Daphnée K Floréal, a Haitian designer who discovered her passion for design at an early age, inspired by the vibrant colors of her culture and the unique mountainous relief of her region. In 2006, she created her line of handmade jewelry, Bijou Lakay. The pieces are crafted by communities of artisans in Haiti using ancestral techniques.

Jenny Polanco, a design legend who evokes and exalts the cultural and charismatic beauty of the island through her proposal, becoming a reference in the Latin American artisanal industry. Her timeless source is Dominican culture, and her particular aesthetic is represented through the combination of materials, achieving unique designs that capture the essence of the Dominican cultural legacy passed down through generations through the bonds of artisanal coexistence.

Giselle Mancebo, a Dominican designer of handmade jewelry characterized by the use of classical techniques with a touch of baroque style. In her pieces, she demonstrates great mastery and balance in selecting the elements to be used. Creating jewelry with identity is her goal, seeking to recreate memorable experiences and showcasing her imprint of contemporary luxury.

Fátima Polanco. She opened her first physical store in 2010, focusing on creating handmade jewelry pieces with exclusive designs featuring a wide variety of styles, techniques, and materials. They evoke our history full of colorful nuances, combining native stones with a style characterized by the elegance of cleanliness in contrast with avant-garde and youthful design.

Cristina Núñez. This Dominican artist has over 20 years of experience dedicated to artisanal work. In her designs, endemic materials from the Dominican Republic often come together boldly, bringing to life the ethnic and indigenous aspects through her creations. The Dominican cultural legacy, filled with folklore and exuberance, is showcased, highlighting creative freedom and the essence of tradition.

Bárbara Taveras. Her designs find inspiration in the sea and within her feminine imagination, where the extravagant and daring merge with native materials of the island, enhancing the beauty of the Caribbean woman. The universe of femininity is strongly present, and she manages to combine a clean technique, native stones, and elements in the pursuit of elevating the beauty of the Caribbean woman.

Gimarie Grullón/ Tiaggi. With a style that embraces minimalism, this emerging jewelry designer focuses on combining native materials with a modern and fresh twist to the local design scene, aiming to exalt the Dominican artisanal legacy through the creation of a distinct jewelry style representing the country.

Gisela María Lozada/ (SHELAIA store). Her passion for design grew until she materialized it through her brand, SHELAIA STORE. She works on the design of artisanal pieces using native Dominican materials, and her pieces embody a contemporary style with a touch of lush femininity.

Jorge Caridad, a craftsman driven by his vocation, marks a before and after in the history of the development of our artisanal industry. He is the founder of the Amber and Larimar Museums and a pioneer in the internationalization of Dominican goldsmithing work. As the backbone of “Symbiosis,” his experience and perseverance become a fundamental part of interpreting the proposals of Dominican and Haitian artisans in this ambitious project that seeks to merge the talent of the islands and showcase the noble raw materials shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Salt, fat, acid and heat are four popular elements of good cooking.^[1] For the Caribbean region, these just might expand to five elements: salt, fat, acid, heat and sweet. From a history of sugar plantations to harvests of juicy tropical fruits, sweet might just be the 5^th element in the treasure trove of flavours that influence Caribbean cuisine. From sweet mango pepper sauces to desicated coconuts, fruit cordials and frozen fruit pulps. Sweet features prominently alongside other key elements of cooking in Caribbean condiments, sauces, marinades, flours and other processed food products.

The Caribbean region, known for its rich cultural heritage, evolved through a convergence of cultural influences, including Indigenous, African, European, Indian and Asian, across various islands. These diverse influences, paired with each island’s own evolving culture and available plants and other ingredients, has birthed a captivating fusion of flavours that is different across every island.

At the renowned Food Industry trade fair, Agroalimentaria 2023, top exporting Caribbean brands and products will be showcased. These include products from Jamaica in the North to Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago in the South, to Westward Belize, and the Eastern islands of the Lesser Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A taste of the Caribbean will be showcased, offering a myriad of processed and pantry food products to delight palettes.

One trend report indicates that “consumers are keen to try exotic street food flavours as a form of escapism”, that “table sauces, seasonings and oils will serve as “Unguilty Pleasures” and that vegan and holistic health options will be in focus^[2]. Businesses across the Caribbean are poised to respond to trends and meet consumer desires. International buyers can discover some of these top exporting businesses at Agroalimentaria 2023.

Synonymous with Jamaican cooking is jerk. C Benjamin Group Ltd (formerly Benlar Foods LTD) offers up this culinary delight and other sauces and pastes that are 100% vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. Consumers can enjoy Jamaican flavours like curry jerk paste and hot jerk paste along with other saucy delights like honey-ginger pepper sauce, sweet mango pepper sauce and scotch bonnet pepper sauce.

Serving up an array of sauces is Belizean company, Marie Sharp’s. A family-owned business that makes their signature product with the freshest vegetables from their farm and the finest ingredients, Marie Sharp’s lives up to their slogan, “Proud Products of Belize”. Distributed worldwide, Marie Sharp’s sauces boast farm-to-bottle freshness with a sharp focus on flavour. Their Habanero pepper-sauce boasts a unique carrot-based blend that achieves the perfect balance between flavour and heat. Available in a variety of blends, including sweet and smoked varieties, Marie Sharp’s sauces promise to bring the heat and deliver mild to comatose heat levels.

Heat, sweet and zingy goodness are among the vibrant flavour offerings of VincyFresh, from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Zingy garlic and ginger marinade, sweet ginger hot sauce, vibrant herb and pepper marinade and hot Caribbean pepper sauce feature among the lineup of tantalising offerings. Locally owned and managed, VincyFresh products are crafted from the finest ingredients grown by local farmers. Vincy Fresh offers a range of marinades, sauces and frozen fruit pulp.

Blending sweet with heat in gourmet hot pepper sauces is Llewellyn´s. Crafted in Rawlins Village, “the breadbasket of Nevis,” these culinary creations embrace a medley of locally sourced treasures from the village and from sibling island, St. Kitts. These gourmet sauces promise character with authentic island flavours like thyme, mango, ginger and guava to complement the hot, spicy sweetness of red and yellow scotch bonnet peppers. A product of British-born chef, Llewellyn O¨Neill Clarke, Llewellyn´s pepper sauces capture the essence of Nevis. In addition, Llewellyn’s also offers cooking oil, vinegar and salad dressing, a compliment to any pantry.

Wheat Flour, a traditional pantry staple, has been replaced or complimented in some pantries by naturally gluten-free and vegan root vegetable flours like cassava. Consumers in search of vegan, natural and healthy lifestyles, including those with gluten sensitivities, may find a range of modern pantry staples to suit their lifestyle from Marthiland, out of Suriname. Mathiland’s Bam Bino line of products includes the naturally gluten-free cassava flour and other products to complement a healthy lifestyle like rice flour, banana porridge, wheat semolina and icing sugar.

Nut flours, like coconut flour, also feature prominently in gluten-free and healthy lifestyle options. Only Coconuts, a brand of Precision Global Inc.http://www.onlycoconuts.com, brings the versatility of coconuts to market, with a range of products from this naturally gluten-free and high-fibre superfood. Their product line-up features naturally gluten-free coconut flour, virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil, desiccated coconuts, and coconut chips. Packed with healthy fats and antioxidants, coconuts can support health and wellness when regularly consumed. By carefully hand-picking every coconut and monitoring all stages of the process, this brand offers only the best, only the purest, Only Coconuts.

RHS Marketing, an award-winning company from Trinidad and Tobago takes pride in manufacturing products that have their roots in the Caribbean and its cultural diversity. They are one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of premium quality sauces, seasonings, spices, condiments, jellies, fruit cordials and essences, along with drinks from one of the hottest new wellness trend ingredients: seamoss. Their offerings include products for both sweet and savoury preparations: ranging from essences like nutmeg, mixed, clove, banana and kola to condiments like mango kuchela, tamarind chutney, chalta amchar to West Indian pepper sauces, hot sauces and even a Vintage West Indian pepper sauce, among other products.

The fusion of culture and tradition expressed in Caribbean processed food products unlocks a world of flavor and naturally healthy ingredients in an array of products to compliment and enhance modern food experiences.

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^[1] Norsat, Samin. “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.” SALT FAT ACID HEAT, www.saltfatacidheat.com/. Accessed 22 May 2023.

^[2] “The Future of Table Sauces, Oils and Seasonings – 2023 : Consumer Market Research Report : Mintel.Com.” Mintel, 10 May 2023, store.mintel.com/report/the-future-of-table-sauces-oils-and-seasonings-market-report?

The ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This philosophy continues to resonate today, shaping current trends and lifestyles. People now view their food choices as a means of promoting health, well-being, and preventative health management. From herbal teas, tinctures, powders and supplements to meditation, digital detoxes and yoga, individuals are looking for holistic approaches to feeling their best. Research indicates that, “The rise in conscientious consumption has the potential to greatly impact the future of nutrition, health and wellness”.^[1]

From the Caribbean, with its rich base of folklore practices^[2] and traditional knowledge involving the use of medicinal plants^[3], new products are emerging that combine traditional wellness secrets with modern insights. These products cater to global consumers’ desires for quality products, plant-based foods, nutraceuticals, functional foods and natural food products that promote health and wellness.

At the renowned Food Industry trade fair, Agroalimentaria 2023, top exporting Caribbean brands and products will be showcased, offering a myriad of benefits for individuals seeking optimal health and well-being.

Bahamian company, Native Organic’s LLC, manufactures a line of 100% natural, pure and potent herbal dietary supplement capsules. Their vegan capsules, made from plants like soursop, papaya, cerasee, moringa, sea moss support overall wellness along with other capsules for colon cleansing, detox, and weight loss.

Native Organic’s line of supplements and capsules contain bioactive compounds, enzymes, and alkaloids that can offer functional benefits. Vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B3 and B6, Iron, and Potassium which are present in Ginger and Turmeric contain more than 300 naturally occurring components including beta-carotene, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), calcium, flavonoids, fiber, iron, niacin, potassium, zinc, and other nutrients. Ginger and Turmeric capsules contain plants that have been used to treat ailments, ranging from migraines to chronic inflammation and fatigue.

Cerasee or bitter melon is traditionally used to help reduce constipation, boost immune functions, stabilise the body’s natural functions, and treat common colds and flu. Cerasee vegan capsules help consumers embrace the benefits of bitter melon in more palatable ways.

Other capsules from Native Organic’s may contribute to eliminating toxins (Organic Colon Cleanse Detox Capsules), improving digestive health (Papaya vegan capsules), and boosting energy and enhancing endurance (Organic Sea Moss Capsules), among other benefits. Native Organic’s helps consumers embrace the power of natural supplements to support their health and well-being.

Caribbean Agro Producers Corp from Dominica is dedicated to producing a wide range of health-enhancing products including capsules, herbal teas, tinctures, powders, spices, and gourmet ginger syrup. Their “Give” brand by Chiacell Biological is dedicated to the research and development (R&D) of healthy, naturally grown herbal teas. The product lineup for teas features premium and herbal tea blends that reflect a traditionally Caribbean “ethnobotanical apothecary”. Each tea product is titled to highlight its specific advantages. From Diabetea, made with Spanish Needle and Neem (Bidens Pilosa and Azadirachta Indica) to Vigor, made with Bois Bandé (Richeria Grandis, used traditionally as an aphrodisiac), their teas cover a diverse range of health concerns. Other popular plants featured in their products include Moringa and Soursop in Revivify, Vervain and Guava in Nerves & Veins and Noni and Ginger in Digestive Health. Additional product offerings include Cleanse, Corossol, Weight Loss, Circulation, Breathe Easy, Joint Health, and Immunity.

By harnessing the power of natural ingredients, Caribbean Agro Producers Corp offers products that can contribute to the well-being of individuals seeking holistic health approaches.

With over forty different types of teas and 60% of its products being exported, Jamaican Teas is the largest producer of teas in the Caribbean. They are the award-winning company that manufactures the rapidly growing brand, Caribbean Dreams. Caribbean Dreams’ tea product lineup features 3 main product lines: Select Tea Infusions, Wellness Teas and Flavoured Teas.

Select Tea Infusions features premium quality products that are expertly blended with the consumer in mind. Ingredients like lemongrass, rosehips, orange leaves and other plants are featured in various blends. Ingredients are carefully selected to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort while balancing consumers’ need for uniqueness, wellness, delectable flavours, and fulfillment.

Wellness Teas are focused on supporting a healthy lifestyle by introducing a variety of herbs and spices that contain many health benefits while Flavoured Teas feature a wide variety of flavourful herbal teas that are made with popular herbs and spices that not only taste good but are good for you too.

In addition to black, green and herbal teas, Jamaican Teas also offers seasoning, loose tea, instant tea and a range of pastas and other pantry products.

RHS Marketing, an award-winning company from Trinidad, takes pride in manufacturing products that have their roots in the Caribbean and its cultural diversity. Their product lineup includes one of the hottest new wellness trends, traditionally known and used in Ireland and the Caribbean: sea moss. Popularized for both health and beauty benefits, Irish sea moss (Chondrus Crispus) is a species of red algae that has attracted praise from health enthusiasts and mainstream celebrities with #seamoss appearing in over 1.2 million Instagram posts. Catering to the demand for sea moss products, RHS Marketing offers sea moss drinks (concentrate) and dried Irish Sea moss. In addition to sea moss products, they also offer a range of sauces, seasonings, spices, condiments, jellies, fruit cordials and essences.

The fusion of traditional Caribbean practices with modern nutrition and wellness insights has given rise to an array of products from the region that help consumers prioritize health and well-being.

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^[1] https://store.mintel.com/report/the-future-of-nutrition-health-and-wellness-market-report

^[2] “The Use of Medicinal Herbs in Barbados.” Medicinal Plants of Barbados for the Treatment of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, Univ. of the West Indies Press, Kingston, 2015, p. 5.

^[3] Vujicic, T; Cohall, D. “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on the Use of Botanical Medicines in a Rural Caribbean Territory.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34776949/. Accessed 15 May 2023.

A group of Haitian and Dominican Business Supporting Organizations, led by  Chambre du Commerce et d’industrie d’ Haïti (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti) and the Federación Dominicana de Cámaras de Comercio-FEDOCAMARAS (Dominican Federation of Chambers of Commerce) strengthened collaboration ties through their joint participation in a Best Practices Mission to Buenos Aires, Argentina. This mission was coordinated by Caribbean Export as part of its Private Sector Dialogue Work Plan stemming out of the implementation of the Trade and Private Sector Component of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Cooperation Program, financed by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).

The delegation was comprised by Chambre du Commerce et d’Industrie d’Haïti-CCIH (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti), Association Des Industries d’Haïti-ADIH (Association of Industries of Haiti), the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti-AmCham Haiti and the Chambre de Conciliation et d’Arbitrage d’Haiti-CCAH (Chamber of Conciliation and Arbitration of Haiti),  Federación Dominicana de Cámaras de Comercio-FEDOCAMARAS (Dominican Federation of Chambers of Commerce), Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo-CCPSD (Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo), Asociación Dominicana de Exportadores-ADOEXPO (Dominican Exporters’ Association) and the Centro de Resolución Alternativa de Controversias de la República Dominicana-CRC (Dominican Republic’s Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution).

Argentina has a long track record of supporting export of its services industry in a worldwide scale, namely in the innovation and technology sector. Such is the case that Argentina has eleven (11) companies that are considered unicorns (valued at over USD$1 billion). Moreover, Argentina has had to overcome major challenges in the political and social realm that have greatly affected private sector development and overall trade.  In this context, Caribbean Export organized this mission to enable r Haitian and Dominican BSOs to discuss what operational and policy frameworks were put in place to support Argentina’s private sector; along with the challenges that were faced and the best practices of what worked.

During the mission, the delegation was able to engage and share best practices with the Cámara Argentina de Comercio y Servicios-CAC (Chamber of Commerce and Services of Argentina), which served as the primary host for this mission, along other private sector support institutions. These exchanges allowed participating BSOs to learn about the services provided by their counterparts in Argentina and improve their technical capacity to support the country’s business development with the appropriate tools to improve their management. In addition, the delegation was able to engage with the Cámara Argentina de Comercio Electrónico-CACE (Digital Chamber of Commerce of Argentina), allowing the acquisition of knowledge about the electronic commerce program (experience and training) implemented by after the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the private exporting sector.

With this activity, the participating chambers of commerce will be able to increase the quantity and quality of the services offered to their members and improve their long-term sustainability, while strengthening their collective interinstitutional cooperation ties across the border and the overall binational private sector.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Caribbean Export’s Executive Director, Deodat Maharaj, visited the Dominican Republic  in March 2023 where he met with key stakeholders from the public and private sector. This was Mr. Maharaj’s first mission to the Subregional Office since taking up the post of Executive Director. While in Santo Domingo, he held meetings with the Dominican Republic Exporters Association (ADOEXPO), the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ProDominicana), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEPYD)and the Vice Ministry of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs. Mr. Maharaj also had the opportunity to discuss regional matters with the Ambassador of the European Union to the Dominican Republic.

During his visit, Maharaj had the opportunity to meet with the press and exchange information about the Agency’s regional programs. He also spoke on how the Agency is undergoing a transition process that seeks to align with new areas relevant to international economic development, such as the transition to a green economy, the incorporation of technology in traditional economic sectors, and innovation and digitalization of our business across the board. Maharaj shared the Agency’s vision of leveraging the Subregional office in the Dominican Republic to serve as a bridge to enhance commercial opportunities between Latin America and the rest of the Caribbean.

Besides the high-level stakeholder meetings, Maharaj spent some time engaging with local media outlets in order to raise the visibility profile of the Agency. He was a guest on the radio program “Almuerzo de Negocios,” where he highlighted some of the success stories of Dominican companies abroad through the agency’s programs that have strengthened the commercial exchange of regional businesses. He also discussed the upcoming Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF), which will be held in the Bahamas in October of this year. The event aims to attract investors to the region and will focus on attracting investment in the Agrotech, Green Economy, and Technology sectors.

In an interview with El Nacional newspaper, Maharaj indicated that one of the new markets the region is focusing its attention on is African countries. “There are great business opportunities in Africa for the Caribbean. A large percentage of the African population is young and interested in novelty,” he said. The agency plans to explore this market through a trade mission in June, which will be accompanied by a large delegation of entrepreneurs and trade promotion agencies from the Caribbean.