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Henré Designs of Antigua redefined the meaning of fashion forward when their French inspired collection, “Madame”, hit the runway at the recently concluded International Fashion Festival – Barbados Fashion Week held on 26-28 October, 2018.

            Stepping all the way out of the box to present a unique blend of trendy androgynal wear, Henré Designs was able to incorporate slight but perfect juxtaposing of female elements against male attire and vice versa.  Remarkably, it worked!

Henré Designs, which was represented by Shem Henry and Demarley Davis, was amongst a group of Caribbean designers who participated in the event through the support of the European Union’s 11^th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP), an initiative currently being implemented by the Caribbean Export Development Agency.

They showcased their Madame collection to a captivated audience, which included international buyers and fashion experts: Sharifa Murdock, co-founder and owner of Liberty Fairs and founder of Envsn Festival; Channing Hargrove, fashion writer for Refinery 29; Hillary Joseph, Director of Cabaña Swim, consultant on Fashion for Brazil and swimwear buyer for Nads Swim; and Ronny Oppong, Global Retail Relations Director for Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs.

Shem, the spokesperson for Henré Designs, explained that the collection was “ a blend of French silhouettes along with androgyny”. We really played with a lot of feminine style to the male pieces and we gave some of the female pieces male qualities. The pieces this evening were inspired around the theme Madame, which is French, bougie, very high-end, very classy and gives a very chic look. That is the image we wanted to project,” he added.

Pointing out that Henré Designs had recently rebranded, he said the duo thought this was the best way to feature what inspired them and their target market.

“We have always been driven by French silhouettes, designers, the culture, the music, the lifestyle so that drove us to create the line.  We used broches, bows and berets to represent the French style and to soften the pieces so they weren’t hardcore French guys but rather, ‘I am subtle, I am chic but I am also masculine’,” Shem said.

Lauding the Caribbean Export Development Agency for its support, the Antiguan designer said Henré Designs has benefited tremendously.

“Caribbean export has allowed fashion designers the opportunity to network, showcase their work and trade. Henré Designs has benefited from such opportunities and we will continue to nurture and strengthen the relationship between the two organizations,” he noted.

In addition to featuring their work at the International Fashion Festival РBarbados Fashion Week, Shem revealed that the duo, representing Henr̩ Designs, also attended a workshop on the Business of Fashion facilitated by international fashion experts, some of whom had Caribbean heritage.

The experts included Ouigi Theodore, a Haitian designer who resides in the United States and is founder of the Brooklyn Circus, a retro-urban fashion boutique and label, and Stacey MaKenzie, a Jamaican born Canadian model and runway coach, who is famously known for judging and training models on America’s Next Top Model and Canada’s Next Top Model.

“The A listed team at that workshop touched, motivated and guided our small brand to new heights. My Caribbean brothers and sisters and my fashion mentors and guides, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy and hectic schedules to work a little magic on Henré Designs.”

He added: “The Caribbean Export has been very instrumental  in our small business by allowing for learning and workshop opportunities which has helped with the business and creative aspects of our business . The initiative has really brought Caribbean Designers together and hopefully will allow growth economically within the fashion sector.”

Shem said Henré Designs comprised a group of young male designers who “really go against the grain and against what is normal”.  Their goals include exporting to regional and international markets.

“Most of the pieces may look like they are for the American and European market but they are pieces you can wear in the Caribbean, you just need to know how to do it,” Shem said.

Also featured at International Fashion Festival – Barbados Fashion Week was a collection entitled Butterfly Alumni and Jahlee Jeans by Barbadian designer, Roy Thompson.

His garments were a combination of men and women’s resort wear and featured floral prints, whites and denim. His dresses were styled with cold shoulders and frills at the ends of the sleeves.  His full figured female attire comprised a white off the shoulder top and a bouncy floral skirt, which were designed to complement the best assets of a woman’s body.

His men’s jackets and jeans were clean cut and appeared comfortable and trendy.  These featured minor embroidery details, especially on the pants and jackets, which really stood out and lent some elegance to the finished product.

Roy disclosed that he was invited by Caribbean Export to showcase his line in the show and explained that he intended to work with the Agency so that he could fulfil his dreams to expand his brands and have the lines carried in local and regional stores.

“My greatest desire is to broaden my horizons and get into the Caribbean markets. My passion has always been denim and I want to continue that trend because many designers aren’t into it. It’s my intention to create denim garments and even make traditional garments that usually use regular material, but in denim,” Roy said, adding he had already made a denim bridal gown.

Other designers who participated in the International Fashion Festival РBarbados Fashion Week and received support from the Caribbean Export Development Agency were: Kristin Frazer of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; Indira Moss of The Bahamas; David Andr̩ of Haiti and Kimya Glasgow of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Caribbean Export is committed to the development of fashion within the region. The agency provides opportunities for emerging and established Caribbean designers to receive technical assistance, business coaching, training and market and export development.  (SP/Caribbean Export)

Persons in the audience were left mesmerized when Kimya Glasgow’s designs hit the runway at the recently concluded International Fashion Festival – Barbados Fashion Week held from the 26-28 October, 2018 hosted and managed by the Caribbean Market Center.

            Not only was the Vincentian’s capsule collection wearable, it was downright fashionable!

In addition to wowing guests at the event, Kimya’s work was seen by a team of international buyers and fashion experts including Sharifa Murdock, co-founder and owner of Liberty Fairs and founder of Envsn Festival; Luam Keflezghi, buyer of ready to wear fashion; Danielle Cooper, fashion influencer, photographer and Elle Magazine contributor and Ouigi Theodore, founder of the Brooklyn Circus, a retro-urban fashion boutique and label.

Kimya Glasgow was one of five designers whose participation was sponsored by the European Union through the 11^th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP), which is being implemented by the Caribbean Export Development Agency.

Commanding the runway with her cohesive designs, Kimya’s predominately white capsule collection included chic shirt dresses, mesh beach cover-ups, long flowing dresses and a standout jumper which is the very definition of “casual elegance”.

Describing her line as high-end casual, the structure of the designer’s garments allows for a flattering yet fabulous fit.

“It’s really classic Caribbean style for modern living…. You would realize we have lots of shirt dresses because my clients really love the ease of buttoning up something or just slipping it over their heads. What I like about my line is the versatility. I like that somebody could wear something I designed to the office but then you could wear it to a party after; put on a jacket, take off a jacket and still be cool and feminine.”

She also emphasized: “I like to cut for women’s bodies so it’s about a flattering fit. I highlight and accentuate the things that women feel comfortable with and are confident about, then skim over other parts.  I think of my customers as strong and powerful, go-getter women who have busy lives but want to feel confident when they step into a room.  I pay attention to detail because I don’t want the dress to wear the person, I want the person to wear the dress.”

Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but raised in Trinidad, Kimya explained she studied fashion design at the Barbados Community College before settling in her birthland to establish her fashion business.

The owner of Kimya Glasgow Boutique, located in the Kingstown Cruise Ship Terminal in St. Vincent, credited the Caribbean Export Development Agency for supporting her dream.

She was a beneficiary of Caribbean Exports’ Women Empowered through Export (WE-Xport) programme, which was launched in March 2018.  The initiative provides business coaching, training and numerous resources to women-owned businesses in the Caribbean. It also seeks to facilitate export or increase the export of products and services.

“Caribbean Export has been a significant part of my business growth. Over the years, I received many opportunities for business and export training, such as Export Marketing Training.” she recalled.

“I applied and succeeded in obtaining a Direct Assistance Grant from Caribbean Export in 2011, which allowed me to do some much needed expansion on my business.  Caribbean Export has also supported me by funding my participation in Dominicana Moda 2014, where my collection was well-received and I was able to do significant research on manufacturing in Dominican Republic and Haiti,” she added.

Divulging some of her differentiating factors, the Vincentian designer said she had a strong preference for natural fabrics and invoking history in her work.

“We are very much a natural line, we only use natural fabrics so things that are bio-degradable like cottons, linens and silk that feel good on the skin and are actually healthier. People don’t often realize because the skin is the largest organ of your body that it actually has an impact on you as a person, but we are moving towards becoming a full eco line in terms of our resort wear and to have a sustainable and ethical brand,” she disclosed.

Kimya has also added a touch of Vincentian uniqueness to her designs by incorporating hieroglyphics from Carib stones on one of her mesh cover-ups. The bronze glittered hand-painted symbol pays tribute to the Caribbean’s indigenous inhabitants and preserves their history.  She intends to recreate more “Carib stone symbols” by hand painting them onto garments and eventually producing a print.

In addition to Kimya Glasgow, the other designers who participated in the International Fashion Festival РBarbados Fashion Week and received support from the Caribbean Export Development Agency were: Kristin Frazer of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; Roy Thompson of Barbados; David Andr̩ of Haiti; Indira Moss of The Bahamas and Henr̩ Designs of Antigua.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency provides transformative and targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the exportability and competitiveness of regional brands. The Creative Industry, of which fashion is an important sector, has been identified as a priority area.      (SP/Caribbean Export)

The eye catching designs showcased at the recently held International Fashion Festival – Barbados Fashion Week could easily have been snatched from the runway and worn to the beach or to an upscale all-inclusive event!

The impressive fashion displayed by the regional designers was possible thanks to the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) who supported their participation at the fashion showcase held on 27th October 2018 at Bellevue Plantation, Barbados with funding from the European Union via the 11^th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP).

Among those featured was fashion designer Kristin Frazer of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.  She showcased her tenth anniversary collection Zion, under the fashion label Trefle.

Describing her collection as “nice, easy and beautiful”, it featured monokinis and flowing dresses in colour choices ranging from coral to blue to red to lime green. The highlight of her capsule collection was an original print named Eustatia, after one of the islands in the BVI.

“We create all our prints; we’ve been doing so since 2015. That is something we decided to do to step out of the box and make us a little bit more eye catching not just for the local and regional markets but for the international market because we are export ready,” she said, adding that she caters to wholesale and retail buyers.

“I really want to be able to stand out, especially coming from a small country with less than 30,000 people.  So if I want to go international, I really, really got to stand out,” she emphasized.

Worth mentioning is the impeccable fit of her swimwear, something she attributes to her strong sewing skills.

“Well I am a seamstress first then a fashion designer. When I design I try to think about different body types… I am not only catering to Caribbean women, I am catering to European women when the tourists come down. I am catering to the American woman so I try to design things to fit all the body types without stretching myself too far.

“A swimsuit is a swimsuit, but because I am a seamstress I try to engineer the best way to make sure a swimsuit truly fits and not just truly fit a size four and size six. The swimsuits that I do start at size four and go up to size 20.  I also add what is called high powered mesh for tummy control to provide more support. I don’t use any underwires, I use soft foam paddings so your nipples don’t show through. I try to come up with those little details that matter and that count so when a woman puts on a Trefle swimsuit, she really feels comfortable and she’s ready to roll… my swimsuits are a bit more conservative but they really help to make you feel empowered and beautiful, so I try to standout in that way,” Kristin said.

Extending a “huge thanks” to the Caribbean Export Development Agency for its support, the fashion designer added: “It’s really coming together in terms of trying to get Caribbean designers into the mainstream and international markets. I enjoyed the fashion workshop also so I really want to say thanks.”

David André, an extraordinary fashion designer from Haiti, also saluted Caribbean Export. “They have been supporting me for ten years; it has always been a pleasure for me to come to so many places in the Caribbean to showcase my work, meet new people and get offers,” he said.

David treated guests at the fashion show to a sneak preview of his 2019 collection.  His capsule featured solid white cottons and linen. It carried a strong seventies vibe with short, mid-leg and long female pants, breezy shirts and cute dresses. The women’s outfits were complemented with headwraps, which he said were inspired by a visit to Dakar, the capital of Senegal in West Africa.

His men’s wear carried a refreshing look and featured jackets trimmed with a blue patterned material.

“The collection has a seventies vibe. It’s very joyful, you can go to parties on Miami Beach or in Barbados for a soca festival. What is good with my line is that it is not limited to the beach or resort, you can wear them all year long. You can mix them with other pieces because it’s very flexible,” David said.

Caribbean Export also lent support to fashion designers Kimya Glasgow of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Indira Moss of The Bahamas; Roy Thompson of Barbados and Henré Designs of Antigua.

Fashion is a key element in the creative industry and Caribbean Export Development Agency has been instrumental in providing technical assistance, business development support and access to finance to regional designers. (SP/Caribbean Export)

Emerging and established Caribbean fashion designers benefited from expert advice and industry tips while participating in the recently concluded Fashion is Big Business Workshop, held during the International Fashion Festival – Barbados Fashion Week between 26-28 October 2018.

The workshop, which was facilitated by the Caribbean Market Centre, featured a frank and open discussion with international fashion designers, buyers and industry experts.  Caribbean Export supported the participation of regional designers at this workshop with funding from the European Union via the 11^th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme.

Ouigi Theodore, founder of the Brooklyn Circus, a retro-urban fashion boutique and label was part of the discussion and he encouraged the designers to take advantage of the Caribbean’s unique style and to market their designs to this region’s diaspora.

Mr. Theodore, a Haitian who moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was eight, urged the designers to understand their culture and to recognize the strength of the Caribbean identity in the diaspora.

Insisting that they needed to go after that market, he pointed to the success of reggae and hip hop in the black community as examples.

“You have to know what you do best and continue to do it best with the little you do have.  I am a huge advocate of reggae music and hip hop. They are about digging into their culture and representing… Many of those guys didn’t go to the best school, some can’t even read music but hip hop is dominating the world, reggae is on the radio outside of Jamaica…

“There is a Haitian middle class who is not living in Haiti and it’s the diaspora. I am a representative of that middle class. What Haitian rapper, Wyclef Jean and guys of that generation did, was make it okay and cool to wave the Haitian flag.  It is the same for you guys as Bajans. Rihanna has made it okay for you guys to wave the Bajan flag and say I am from Barbados and I am proud to be Barbadian. But that is not enough, you need to be on the ground, go back and forth, bridge the gap and push your designs” Ouigi Theodore said.

Also speaking at the workshop was Sharifa Murdock, co-founder and owner of Liberty Fairs and founder of Envsn Festival.  She agreed with Mr. Theodore and urged the designers to be the first to represent their brand.

“If you have a clothing line, you have to be your first buyer and lead by example. Believe in your dream and your product,” she said, adding it was critical for designers to also create simple products that could maintain cash flow.

“What a lot of designers put on runway is not what they put in the stores because you have to find something people can wear.  If you have a couture line do something simple like t-shirts that is an easy sell. All you have to do is produce things that can give people a memorable moment of your brand,” Sharifa suggested, while advising Caribbean designers to go after the tourist market by placing their work in local stores.

“There needs to be authenticity into your designs. You guys are from the islands and no one takes the opportunity to really produce products for here. Everyone wants to go to the States but you have a big community here… and there is so much tourism,” she said.

The workshop’s moderator Ronny Oppong, a Global Retail Relations Director at Liberty Fashion and Lifestyle Fairs, agreed with the need for authenticity and gave some insight into customization, which he noted was becoming more desirable among customers.

“We’ve done trade shows and noticed that buyers just love a unique piece of something that is specially for them, like something with their name on it. So if your style is couture, you can drape or cut a bunch of t-shirts in your signature style. That’s a piece of your craft, something customized,” he explained, noting that the investment for such a product was smaller so the end price would be more attractive to buyers.

Another fashion expert at the workshop was Hillary Joseph, Director of Cabaña Swim, a consultant on Fashion for Brazil and a swimwear buyer for Nads Swim.

Ms. Joseph addressed product placement and distribution.  Asking the designers, “who do you sit next to?” She said: “the worse answer you can get is that I am different and I don’t sit next to anybody.”

Stressing that research was required to effectively answer the question, the fashion consultant outlined, “It’s knowing who your brand sits next to based on your set up and your price point and then understanding what store that is. Everyone wants to be in a Barneys or Saks Fifth Avenue but that might not necessarily be where your brand needs to be. So it’s really being realistic and knowing what is right for your brand,” she said.

However, she did acknowledge it could be challenging to get into established stores and urged the designers to consider doing “pop up shops” – which is a short term store or sales space.

Also imparting words of wisdom was Luam Keflezghi, an international buyer of ready to wear fashion.  Ms. Keflezghi cautioned the designers against waiting on “existing systems” to build their success, especially if they hoped to get people in Caribbean to support their brands.

“Do not wait on existing systems to include you. Create your own system, a pipeline to your audience. So for example, the tourists will come. You have to figure out marketing so they find out about you before they visit so when they get here, they come directly to you. To do that, you need to use Instagram and the internet to get people to plug into a system that you already created,” she said.

Emphasizing that these platforms needed to be professional, she told the designers their brands needed to be easy to find and constantly refreshed.

Channing Hargrove, a Fashion writer for Refinery 29 and owner of the blog Channing In the City, advised the designers to get strong marketing platforms, not only for promotion purposes but to generate sales.

“You need to have relationships with editors, writers and public relations experts. Your photos should be strong on both social media and your website. You must also have a direct commerce link so people can click and buy immediately.  If your website is not great and you don’t have a link to buy, you can’t get eyes on you and you cut out so many sales,” Ms. Hargrove pointed out.

The fashion writer also proposed that the designers used video and photos done by professionals as opposed to solely relying on their phone cameras.

Also sharing her perspective on the industry was Danielle Cooper, a fashion influencer and owner of the blog and podcast Shesagent.com.

She stressed that authenticity was really critical for designers. “Research, know your target audience and what is your niche.  More and more people are attempting to follow trends or follow others, that will come out and people will notice. So pay attention to your self-expression and stay true to yourself and your niche.  Be authentic because it’s going to shine and more people will be able to relate to you,” Ms. Cooper said.

The last bit of advice came from International model and runway coach, Stacey McKenzie, who is famously known for her coaching and judging appearances on America’s next top model.

She stressed that it was imperative that both models and designers treated their craft like a business.

“What they fail to understand is that it’s a business and [they] need to treat it as such. People see all fluff in the forefront and make you think this is some fabulous life. No its work and its hard work.  Research the industry and know your craft. You always have to be evolving, switch up, be fresh and new,” the Jamaican born model said.

Caribbean Export is committed to the development of the region’s Creative Industry, in which fashion is key sector. The Agency supports businesses in the industry to develop their export potential, build capacity, access finance through grant schemes and benefit from training and technical assistance. (SP/Caribbean Export)

Fashion is a key sector of the region’s creative industries with designers creating some of the most unique styles inspired by their environments.  Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in cooperation with the European Union is supporting the participation of eight (8) CARIFORUM based designers in this years’ International Fashion Festival Boutique Business (IFFBB) 2018 giving them an opportunity to showcase their creativity and meet with the international buyers that will be present. The overall event is managed by the Caribbean Market Center in partnership with Liberty Fairs New York and the Barbados Investment Development Cooperation (BIDC).

Indira Moss from The Bahamas will present her label ILashan which includes a range from swimsuits to ready-to-wear and bridal designs.  Current WE-Xport participant Kimya Glasgow will showcase her classic Caribbean look for the modern woman that present a relaxed elegance influenced by the Caribbean aesthetic coming from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  Not forgetting the male designers, David André from Haiti with his self-named David André Collection will show how diverse you can be with a single colour pallet.

The opportunity for regional designers to learn from industry experts and from those who have ‘made it’ should not be over looked.  The 3-day event will start with a fashion expo in the Queen’s Park Art Gallery on the evening of Friday 26^th October 2018.  One of the highly anticipated events will be a workshop under the theme Fashion is Big Business on Saturday 27^th at the Hilton Barbados where attendees will hear from Sharifa Murdock co-owner of the leading business to business fashion trade event Liberty Fairs; Quincy Theodore founder of Brooklyn Circus, an incubation programme for emerging designers and Samantha Belfer, senior buyer responsible to finding new emerging designers for luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue who will present on what retail buyers are looking for from designers.

“We know the Caribbean is burgeoning with talent within the creative industries, but our creatives also have to be good at business.  Caribbean Export is pleased to be able to support CARIFORUM designers participate and leverage the opportunity” expressed Alison Beckles, Services Consultant at Caribbean Export.

Other designers participating include Bhwram Atelier and Harvey Robertson from Trinidad and Tobago; Natalie Eastmond and Roy Thompson from Barbados; and Kristin Frazer from the British Virgin Islands.

The Caribbean is a youthful region, with over 60% of the population under the age of 30 years.  The inclusion of youth is central to region’s economic development and as such the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in cooperation with the European Union are supporting 8 youth owned agro-processing businesses from across the CARIFORUM to participate in the Caribbean Week of Agriculture’s Market Place.

Caribbean Export will have a pavilion (located at E 14) where attendees will be able to see a range of products manufactured by youth owned business.  This showcase of innovative products using the region’s finest natural resources includes Red Diamond Compost – Barbados; Naturindas Foods – Barbados; Kayaweng Women Agro-Processors – Guyana; Big G’s – Dominica; Natural Fusion Partners – Jamaica; Cacoa Sainte Lucie – Saint Lucia; Sugar Town Organics – St Kitts And Nevis and Farmer’s Farm Ltd – Trinidad and Tobago.

In addition to the pavilion, Caribbean Export will host a session on intellectual property rights and branding for agropreneurs.  This introductory session will explain intellectual property and how trademarks and design can be used as branding tools, amongst others.  Exhibitors and attendees of the Market Place interested in attending must register online at the Caribbean Export Website.

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) provides an excellent platform for youth in agro-processing to network and promote their goods and services while giving them a voice in industry discussions.

Two Caribbean companies have been selected as finalists in the SIAL Innovation Awards 2018 for their product innovation.  They are Caribbean Cure Ltd of Trinidad and Tobago and Naledo Belize Ltd.

SIAL is regarded as the world’s largest food innovation exhibition and hosts the SIAL Innovation Awards each year to recognise those who help to shape what we eat both today and tomorrow.  Taking place in Paris from October 21-25, 2018, the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Union are supporting twelve food and beverage producers to participate at SIAL under the Caribbean Kitchen banner.

Of the twelve companies Caribbean Cure and Naledo’s participation has already started draw attention given their shortlisting for a SIAL Innovation Award for their dynamic and creative product offerings.

Naledo Belize Ltd are one of the world’s first manufacturers of fresh turmeric paste.  Developed by CEO Umeeda Switlo, Naledo use a recipe based on her own traditional Indian cooking to create Truly Turmeric.  Turmeric is a healthy root often found in supermarkets and health stores in a powered or capsule form to be taken as supplements however, Naledo Belize Ltd have transformed it to create a deliciously healthy wildcrafted whole root turmeric paste making it a niche product within the global market.

“We are very excited to be a finalist in the SIAL 2018 product innovation award for Truly Turmeric. Naledo is the first company in the world to manufacture a fresh turmeric paste and our CEO Umeeda Switlo came up with this recipe based on her traditional Indian cooking. This nomination means that our company has been recognized for the innovative product we produce and our social enterprise model. We hope that it opens trade doors to the EU and beyond” declared Nareena Switlo, COO at Naledo.

Naledo is a social enterprise based in Toledo, Belize and focuses on youth entrepreneurship, sustainable production, regenerative agriculture, and community empowerment. With every jar sold customers know that they are directly impacting our network of small-scale growers in Belize

Keeping with tradition Caribbean Cure Ltd produce a line of loose leaf natural healing teas that utilise indigenous plants found within the Caribbean.  Their handcrafted teas which utilise premium organic ingredients are crafted through the preservation of nutrients found within the roots, herbs and flowers of plants that have been used for generations within the Caribbean to heal and treat ailments.

“When we began hand- crafting our blends, we had one simple mission – to share our passion and love for the age-old traditions and healing qualities of Caribbean herbs. We visited farmers, herbalists and tea lovers from across the region to find out what makes the perfect cup of natural tea. We were determined to create much more than tea with health benefits. We are excited to share the Caribbean tea experience at Sial Paris and will continue to share our passion with the world on this global platform” commented Sophia Stone, Founder and Managing Director at Caribbean Cure Ltd.

“We are thrilled that two of the companies that will be attending as part of the Caribbean Kitchen pavilion have been recognised for a SIAL Innovation Award and we hope that they receive a prize.  This doesn’t only bode well for Caribbean Cure and Naledo but also for the region as a whole.  We have some fantastic food innovations across CARIFORUM and we need to gain greater visibility for them” expressed Chris McNair, Manager – Competitiveness and Export Promotion, Caribbean Export.

The participation of CARIFORUM companies at international trade shows is a key intervention of Caribbean Export to support the region’s exporters to increase their market penetration namely in Europe.

“It’s important for Caribbean companies to be present at international events.  We have to leverage the support from the European Union via the 11^th EDF to ensure the innovation, great products coming out of the region are seen internationally.  At the end of the day there’s no point in having great products if no one knows about them” McNair went on to comment.

The Caribbean is widely known for its impeccable beaches, rhythmic music and tantalizing food, not to mention the rum!  At this years’ SIAL, Paris from October 21-25, 2018 visitor will get the opportunity to sample first hand a collection of the Caribbean’s finest food and beverage producers at the Caribbean Kitchen’s debut staging.  Twelve different producers from six Caribbean islands will exhibit a range of exotic authentic sauces, natural food products, herbal teas and a range of liquors and alcoholic beverages including rum.

The participation of exhibitors under the banner Caribbean Kitchen will be found connecting halls 3 and 4 and is a collaborative effort between the Caribbean Export Develop Agency and the European Union to support Caribbean private sector development, promoting sustainable job creation to ultimately alleviate poverty.  With EU funding under the 11^th European Development Fund (EDF) it is hoped that the participation of Caribbean companies at SIAL will support increased exports of food and beverage products to the EU and contribute to our Region’s much needed foreign reserves and economic growth.

Of the twelve producers exhibiting Caribbean Cure Ltd, Global Seafood Distributors Ltd and Hot Mama’s Belize are women owned and include herbal teas, seafood and a range of flavoursome hot sauces and condiments.  Other exhibitors include, traditional Jamaican ackees from Island Packers and Blue Mountain Coffee from Country Traders Limited; Carita Jamaica Ltd producers of natural food products; the Caribbean’s only cider producer Benedicta S.A from the Dominican Republic; Ron Veleiro rum and J&J Spirits, SRL with their ready-to-drink mamajuana Kalembu ; honey from the Caribbean Beekeeping Services SRL; Vincyfresh Limited sauces and condiments and Naledo Belize Ltd with turmeric based products.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Union officially launched their market intelligence portal, known as CE-INTELLIGENCE.

At the media launch held at the newly renovated Warrens Great House on Tuesday 10^th, July 2018, Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton outlined the importance of the CE-Intelligence portal for private sector firms looking to grow their businesses through exporting to new markets.  “Trade, business intelligence and market research are key for the successful entry into export markets” explained Coke-Hamilton.  The portal will enable firms to “develop their own customised reports to learn more about market entry requirements in any given country, important trade data, and key business contacts” informed Coke Hamilton.

Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, Eastern Caribbean States, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM Mr. Luis Maia highlighted that market intelligence is an indispensable commodity in today’s technology driven environment.  Further the portal will complement the EU’s Trade Helpdesk to enhance the business opportunities of those looking to penetrate the EU markets.  “For no longer can business persons operate successful businesses, without adequate knowledge of market requirements,” Maia explained to the attending private sector.

The CE-Intelligence portal was conceptualized to assist firms in being more strategic in their market entry plans as it provides an easily accessible platform for the region’s Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to access accurate and high-quality data free of charge, which reduces the cost, time and effort required to make strategic business decisions.

The question as to why many businesses did not make that move to export was raised by the Hon. Minister Sandra Husbands in her keynote.  Charging that a cultural fear of the unknown was often a reason for businesses not venturing in to export, Minister Husbands congratulated the Agency for providing a much-needed tool that will make it easier for firms to move out of their comfort zones to explore export markets and benefit from the economies of scale that are synonymous with larger markets.  Moreover, Minister. Husbands called on entrepreneurs to make it second nature to include export as part of their business plans in view of the small market typical of small islands.

The CE-Intelligence portal provides information for its users in the areas of trade and business intelligence; access to finance with a listing of financial institutions and opportunities across the region; step by step export guides including a series of videos that explain the key elements of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA); foreign direct investment and a section on food safety providing information on the market entry requirements of key markets such as the EU, the USA, and Canada.

It is hoped that with the introduction of the CE-Intelligence portal the true potential of regional brands is unlocked with the use of high-quality information to aid in decision making.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank has kicked off the inaugural activity of the Women Empowered through Export (WE-Xport) programme with a two-day workshop aimed at increasing participating firms’ and regional business support organisations’ (BSOs) access to finance.

Access to finance has been identified as one of the largest hindrances to businesses in their efforts to expand. Through an increased understanding of the necessary requirements to access funds from traditional banking institutions and funding agencies, it is hoped that more women-owned businesses will be able to access the finance needed to expand their businesses, and take advantage of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-EPA) to export their products and services to CARICOM and Europe.

“This disproportionate access to finance, which women face, limits their ability to participate in, and contribute to the economy, and hinders the improvement of their lives,” said Lisa Harding, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Coordinator, Technical Cooperation Division, CDB.
“Further, we believe this barrier and the consequent under-representation in entrepreneurship represents a missed economic opportunity for our Region,” she said. “It is against this backdrop that CDB is pleased to be partnering yet again, with Caribbean Export, in the WE-Xport programme, and particularly to fund participants in the “Access to Finance” component.”

At the opening of the workshop Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director of Caribbean Export, outlined how issues such as sector concentration, lack of innovation and informal business structures, impede access to finance. Coke-Hamilton informed attendees that the WE-Xport programme aims to tackle many of these challenges; and the Access to Finance workshop would address the concerns of financial institutions regarding “weak financial literacy, and not keeping proper business and financial records”. Further, following the workshop, local Business Support Organisations in all 15 CARIFORUM countries will receive six months of technical assistance to enable them to better equip firms in their respective countries in preparing to access finance.

Coke-Hamilton closed by stressing “to the financial institutions, you also have a vital role to play in ensuring that when these companies make the necessary adjustments on their end to meet the requirements, that they are facilitated in their respective countries”.

The European Union has done a considerable amount of work in support of private sector development over several decades. Their continued commitment to achieving the overall objective of increasing the growth and prosperity of MSMEs and by extension decent job creation and wealth formation in the region was highlighted by Camille Wildman, Project Officer-Private Sector Specialist at the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM in her remarks. Wildman commended the CDB, Caribbean Export and UN Women on the organization of the workshop to improve the ability of the attending BSOs and women-owned businesses to meet the requirements of the formal banking sector and improve their overall ‘financial intelligence’.

Caribbean Export launched the WE-Xport programme in March, 2018 and selected 20 women-owned businesses from across CARIFORUM to participate in a range of activities and intiatives to build their capacity and support the growth and development of their businesses. Following the Access to Finance workshop, three companies from the WE-Xport programme will be showcasing their businesses at European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels, Europe. Following this event, participants will benefit from a three-month intensive business coaching programme.

In addition to workshops, activities under the WE-Xport programme include technical assistance grants, a podcast series to address issues affecting women in business and a women’s business forum.

Caribbean Export will showcase at Europe’s leading forum on international cooperation and development, European Development Days (EDD) bringing greater publicity to their women focused programme Women Empowered through Export (WE-Xport).

WE-Xport was launched in March of this year with the aim of supporting women-owned businesses to grow through assisting in their development to either start exporting or increase their exports. Nineteen businesses have been selected to participate in the programme and are expected to focus on exporting their products and services primarily to the European Union, utilising the benefits of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

The participation of Caribbean Export together with two participants of WE-Xport; EcoFarms from Jamaica and Sugar Town Organics from St. Kitts and Nevis will bring focus to the Agency’s work with the European Union and specifically the Agency’s focus on female entrepreneurs under the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme.

The theme of EDD 2018 is ‘Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest’ and is expected to attract over 6,000 participants from 140 countries, representing 1200 organisations from the development comunity. It is anticipated that the inclusion of WE-Xport participants will raise the visibility of Caribbean women in business and provide an opportunity for greater market penetration within Europe.