The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on May 25, 2018 across Europe and was designed to modernise laws and protect the personal information of individuals and give control to individuals over their personal data. Further, it aimed to streamline the regulatory environment for business in the use of personal data and the protection of privacy rights of European citizens.  GDPR also applies to non-European Union (EU) companies processing European personal data outside the EU and since its adoption the regulation has become a model for many national laws outside of the EU.Â
Within the Caribbean, there remains a level of uncertainty surrounding the regulatory framework and the manner by which governments, businesses, and entities collect, store and disseminate private data of EU citizens. As such, companies and public bodies within the Caribbean could encounter serious challenges in the conduct of their business with EU operators and citizens.
In view of this, a two-day workshop on the requirements and conditions of compliance with the EU GDPR for public administrations and regional social partners is being organised. This activity is funded by the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) of the European Commission in cooperation with the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH or GIZ in short, the CARIFORUM Secretariat, the Barbados Coalition Services Industries and the Ministry of Foreign Trade for the Government of Barbados.
The workshop is scheduled to be held on 29-30th of January 2020 and supports the EU’s goals through raising awareness and understanding about the EU data protection regulation.
Six companies from the Eastern Caribbean participated in the 4th edition of the TechBeach Retreat which took place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from December 5-7 2019.
The two-day event brought together hundreds of participants including technology entrepreneurs from the Caribbean and North America, and 52 world class keynote speakers from multiple global companies like The New York Times, Forbes and Inc. Magazine, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Massy and Airbnb, among others.
The six participating technology companies from the Eastern Caribbean were: IslandTEK, eMagine Solutions Inc, Converge Solutions Inc, and Big Brother Technologies (based in Saint Lucia); and airZoon and Wimediacom (based in Martinique).
The mission was part of the INTERREG Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean (TEECA) project which is coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Martinique (CCI Martinique) along with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export).
The delegation was led by OECS Competitive Business Technical Specialist, Kwesi Roberts; and Special Advisor for Trade and Legal Affairs at the Caribbean Export Development Agency based in Barbados, Gayle Gollop.
This year, the TechBeach Retreat was sponsored by Google and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Participants had the opportunity to attend key presentations on the current state of innovation, entrepreneurship and disruptive technology in the region. The event also enabled the six entrepreneurs to participate in B2B meetings during which they had the opportunity to network with global players in the area of technology, access new products and services, and showcase innovations made in the Caribbean.
Co-Founder of TechBeach Retreat, Kirk-Anthony Hamilton, highlighted: “The event sought to foster collaboration among like minded individuals in the area of technology and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. The nonhierarchical nature of the event allows people to meet tech leaders and exchange ideas in a relaxed environmentâ€. Hamilton said.
Panel discussions, round tables and presentations were delivered on the following matters:
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Fifth Horizon;
Life with Machines: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation;
Blockchain Technology and Digital Assets;
Cashless Societies: Scaling Fin-Tech Solutions to Mainstream Impact;
Smart Infrastructure and the Future of Cities;
Google Innovation and Reinvention: The Intelligent Enterprise and the Experience Economy;
The Future of Work: Exploring the Technological Transformation of Industries;
Cyber Security and the New Paradigm of Everyday Life;
The Future of Health and Well-Being; and
Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the Digital Revolution.
Participants also attended workshops for Start-Ups and Corporates on eGovernance, Scaling and Venture Capital.
Raising the profile of the Caribbean’s orange economy (also known as the creative economy), exchanging best practices, innovation and cultivating relations was the focus of the recently held mission of the Caribbean Export Development Agency to the 9th African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Summit of Heads of State and Government which took place from 9th to 10th December 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Caribbean Export staged a fashion showcase in collaboration with the ACP Secretariat where 80 designers from 20 countries of the Caribbean, the Pacific and Africa presented under the patronage of the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados on the evening of the 7th of December.
Prime Minister Mottley stressed the importance of initiatives such
as this to the promotion and popularisation of creatives in order to raise
capital and investment, stating, “We hope that we can create the logistical
framework that will allow the trading to take place so that we don’t only
marvel at the beauty of the designs, but we can ensure that the economics that
will support the sale of the designs can make the businesses sustainable.â€
Anthony Bradshaw, Officer in Charge – Caribbean Export Development Agency together with The Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
Hon. Mottley
continued, “We now need to popularise it and we now need to ensure that access
to working capital is always there for our artists, because for most artists
they don’t have the collateral to go and access funding from the banks in order
to be able to expand production.â€
In a separate interview, Mr. Anthony Bradshaw, Caribbean Export’s Officer in Charge explained, “Participating in activities of this magnitude is critical for us as a development agency. We have to ensure that the Caribbean is well positioned within the African, Caribbean and Pacific grouping and that the great contribution the region’s private sector is making towards our economic development is not only recognised and acknowledged but also supported by legislative frameworks.â€
The ACP Fashion Show curated by Rodney Powers of the Caribbean Market Center and Socrates McKinney of Dominicana Moda, presented pieces from the Caribbean Fashion Showroom and the collection created during the Agency’s Caribbean Fashion Accelerator Pt 2 programme. One of the highlights of the show was the collection of contemporary shirts from the Dominican Association of Chacabana Producers (ACHADOM) which attracted a lot of interest from the male dignitaries in attendance.
In addition to
the ACP Fashion Show, Caribbean Export presented their initiatives supported by
the CARIFORUM Directorate and the European Union under the 11th EDF
Regional Private Sector Development and Haiti-Dominican Republic Bi-National
Programmes within the ACP Business Village including the work of “Manos
Dominicanasâ€, a programme of the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Margarita Cedeño, which supports the economic empowerment of women through the
design, creation and selling of craft products.
This event also
showcased the talent of other ACP regions via the participation of the Fashion
Council of Fiji, made possible by the Pacific Island
Forum, and the Congolese-Italian company Samboue.
This fashion extravaganza
presented a practical example of intra-ACP and ACP-EU collaboration, showing
how culture can unite our countries while securing a better future for our
people.
Curacao is the newest country to launch an
iGuide, or online investment guide, with the support of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Caribbean Export Development
Agency (Caribbean Export), the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion
Agencies (CAIPA), the European Union and the Ministry of Economic Development
in Curacao.
The iGuide, launched on Monday, is an
online repository of information on the opportunities and conditions for
investment in Curacao. iGuides are a joint product of UNCTAD and the
International Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking at the launch event, President of
CAIPA, Ms. Tessa Jacques noted, “This iGuide for Curacao, is the fourth one
that we have launched in the Caribbean so far. We are very pleased to be
working with UNCTAD and Caribbean Export for the development of eight iGuides
for the Caribbean region. We have so far launched the iGuides for St. Lucia,
St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Jamaica, during the last three months.â€
“We look forward to launching the iGuides
for Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Trinidad
& Tobago in 2020,†added Ms. Jacques.
The Minister for Economic Development of
Curacao, Ms. Giselle McWilliam highlighted the significant benefit of the
iGuide to Curacao, noting, “Curacao as a small island, needs to work hard and
invest a lot to be captured and discovered by potential investors. We need to
compete with other islands, cities, countries and continents. So, when UNCTAD
offered us the opportunity to join the iGuide platform, we accepted immediately.
Through such an important international organization like UNCTAD and [CAIPA],
we are assured of broad coverage, to capture attention worldwide and
regionally.â€
This position was supported by the
Executive Director of the Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency
(CINEX), Ramon Koffijerg, who said, “Many are already familiar with the
Investment Guide of CINEX, where all the detailed information is available,
online and in hard copy, explaining the investment benefits of Curacao.
However, what makes the UNCTAD iGuide very special to us, is the value it
carries given the endorsement of the United Nations. This not only adds the
element of respect, trust and validity to the information we share, but more so
expands our reach into networks we would not have been able to tap into. on our
own, as a small island in the Caribbean.â€
“Investors
are reticent to invest without adequate information,†explained Suzette Hudson,
Snr. Advisor, Investment Promotion, Caribbean Export, adding, “It is our hope
to have iGuides developed for all the countries that we support as an Agency.
In this way, we would have created information ‘one stop shops’ for investors,
improving the business climate in the Caribbean by reducing the time and the
costs that investors face in trying to secure information from various sources.â€
Caribbean small island developing states, or SIDs, were exposed to key strategies in attracting and facilitating investment into projects that seek to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs), at a recent seminar titled: ‘Facilitating Investment in SDG-Projects’, held in St. Kitts from November 26-28.
The 17 SDGs, adopted in 2015 by the United Nations member states, are strategies focused on peace and prosperity, preservation of oceans and forests, and are also meant to end poverty. These strategies include improving health and education, reducing inequality and spurring economic growth.
Forty delegates attended the regional seminar which covered topics including the strengthening of value chains in the region to support the attainment of the SDGs, the importance of partnerships to achieve the goals, as well as the role of Special Economic Zones and innovative modalities of financing SDG projects. The importance of attracting investment that considers issues such as gender equality and linkages to the domestic economy were also covered, along with the relevance of international investment agreements to the Caribbean.
The seminar was hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), secretariat for the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA), in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the St. Kitts Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Shawn Richards, noted that the Caribbean SIDs face significant challenges including vulnerability to exogenous shocks, climate change and the socio-economic impact of brain drain.
From left to right: Paul Wessendorp, Chief, Investment Promotion Section, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD; Jasemin Weekes, Caribbean Export Board Member for St. Kitts and Nevis; Hon. Shawn Richards, Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis; Tessa Jacques, President of CAIPA
“Resilience building must…be our developmental priority as part of a multi-faceted plan that includes climate adaptation and economic diversification†the Deputy Prime Minister noted. He added “It makes sense therefore that the small island developing states of the Caribbean focus on attracting investments that do not increase our vulnerabilities or jeopardize the sustainable use of our natural resources.”
This position was supported by the President of CAIPA, Ms. Tessa Jacques, who indicated that, “It is the intention of CAIPA to play its part in ensuring that our members attract investment that will meet the needs of today, while safeguarding the ability of future Caribbean generations to meet their own needs.â€
“Our Agency has…been at the forefront regionally in creating the partnerships needed to support the achievement of our sustainable development goals as a region†noted Ms. Jasemin Weekes, the St. Kitts and Nevis Board member for Caribbean Export, in reference to the cooperation forged with CAIPA and UNCTAD, among other regional and international agencies. “These relationships have strengthened our capacity to deliver on our mandate as an export and investment promotion agency and will support our achievement of the SDGs as a region.â€
The event was deemed timely by UNCTAD, given the falloff by 32-percent in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the Caribbean in 2018 relative to the previous year. Mr. Paul Wessendorp, Chief of the Investment Promotion Section in the Division on Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD shared the findings of UNCTAD’s 2019 World Investment Report, that FDI in small island developing states “remains fragile and dependent on a few capital-intensive projects…in construction, as well as hotels and tourismâ€. Further, “FDI is the largest source of external finance for developing countries and as such, has the potential to create higher skilled employment, access to technology and international markets and can help achieve the SDGs. It is our aim to offer support to countries, in particular the SIDs given their special vulnerabilities, in the attraction and facilitation of projects that will meet their SDGs. We are particularly pleased to have worked with Caribbean Export and CAIPA in making this event a reality.â€
The 3-day event welcomed 40 key delegates from across the region and saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CAIPA and the Caribbean Agribusiness Association to forge relations to collaborate for the attraction of investment into the high-tech agriculture sector.
The seminar ended with the hosting of the CAIPA Annual General Assembly, which focused the attention of the Caribbean investment promotion agencies on the continued collaboration with UNCTAD, the definition of a CAIPA 2020 work plan and the development of a financial sustainability strategy for the Association.
The event was funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund Regional Private Sector Development Programme and UNCTAD.
Participating countries included: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The billion-dollar
Global music industry has changed rapidly over the past 10 years alone. Some may argue that the digital age has made
it that much more accessible with social media platforms supporting artist and
new music discovery. However, the
introduction of streaming shook up the industry causing adaptation and change
to enable artists capitalise through the monetize digital music.
YouTube along with other social media platforms has birthed stars allowing unknown artists to reach parts of the world they couldn’t imagine and creating a demand or following for their music long before any record label picked them up. But how do artists get discovered online? And how can the Caribbean musicians leverage digital platforms to export their music globally?
These are
some of the questions the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean
Export) is attempting to answer with its Business of Music (BOM)
programme. “Understanding of the digital
music industry is imperative if an artist is going to succeed and the Business
of Music training programme aims to build the capacity of artists, managers,
producers and those involved in the music industry†informed Allyson Francis,
Services Specialist at Caribbean Export.
Since 2017,
the Agency has worked with Business Support Organisations (BSOs) specifically
the Coalition on Services Industries (CSIs) from across the region to enable
those involved in the industry to participate in BOM sessions via the online self-learning
platform, and face to face workshops. A new
dimension to this training was the instructor led webinars. Over 120 people
have participated in these initiatives thus far and most recently, the Agency
held a two-day
workshop in collaboration with COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers, Authors
and Publishers Inc.) and the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and the
‘knowledge company’ Music Ally
Ltd in Barbados.
The workshop welcomed twenty-three (23) participants from nine Caribbean countries who gained insight on topics such as the mystery of YouTube’s algorithm and how to optimise it; how to develop a lean and mean online campaign; how to leverage tools such as Chartmetric amongst others. Participants also performed digital health checks to get a better understanding of how they or their artists are viewed online and increase their understanding of how their music can be discovered.
“This isn’t
an age now where you can simply sit back and relax and hope that people get
involved with you and your music simply by making music available. You’ve got to be regularly interacting with
people†stressed the CEO and Co-founder of Music Ally Ltd – Paul Brindley.
“You have to
go where the music fan is so that means making sure that all of those channels
are absolutely properly optimised, so your Youtube, Spotify, all the social
media platforms and make sure they are all linked together†he continued. “Make the music fans life as easy as possible
and so think through the eyes of the music fan and think, how are they going to
discover me?â€
“Our
managers, musicians, artists need to leverage the tools that are out there and
do everything they can to increase their chances of being discovered†commented
Francis. “At Caribbean Export we are
committed to providing the necessary support, but we can only take you so far.â€
One participant from Saint Lucia Akeem Anderson, artist and producer from Onel Sound Productions summed up his experience, “The last two days have been nothing but beneficial. The majority of us who have been in attendance are pretty much individuals who have gotten our feet wet already in the business and in the industry. We’re getting some gigs, we’ve had some success, we have a little bit of notoriety. However, the information that they’ve disseminated is going to allow us to chisel in our characteristics and our skills, honing in on our good qualities and strengths and maximise our resources however limited or expansive that they may be in to reaching not just a regional audience but also an international audience and getting the revenue we desire for our work and our intellectual propertyâ€.
The packaging and promotion of any product
or service is critical to attract customers and gain sales. The same is true for investment
opportunities. The Caribbean Export
Development Agency (Caribbean Export), in partnership with the Caribbean
Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) and the United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation (UNIDO) recently hosted a training workshop in the
British Virgin Islands (BVI) focused on improving the quality of investment
project information to make them more attractive to potential investors.
From left: UNIDO Trainer – Dr. Umesh Menon, Suzette Hudson, Senior Advisor – Investment Promotion (Caribbean Export), Junior Minister Sharie de Castro, Lizette George – Policy Advisor in the Office of the Premier (BVI)
The 5-day
training workshop was delivered by UNIDO with a focus on enhancing the capacity
of the Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) to better identify investment
opportunities, as well as the formulation and appraisal of investment projects.
“The need of developing countries in upgrading local skills and capabilities in
the preparation and appraisal of pre-investment studies, calls for appropriate
capacity building support, including adequate human resource development,â€
notes Dr. Umesh Menon, UNIDO trainer for the workshop.
The 22 Caribbean participants from 16
Caribbean territories were trained in the use of the flagship software of UNIDO – Computer Model for
Feasibility Analysis and Reporting (COMFAR III Expert- Basic Version). COMFAR
facilitates the fast computation of financial statements needed for financial
and economic appraisal of investment projects. The software can be used for
small- to large-scale projects, expansion, rehabilitation and modernization of
existing enterprises and joint ventures.
Commenting at the opening of the workshop,
the Jr. Minister for Trade & Economic Development of the BVI, Sharie B. de
Castro, shared that, “The BVI is in the process of establishing our Trade and
Investment Promotion Agency. It is important to us to develop a core group of
professionals who are well versed in investment project identification,
preparation and appraisal. This will ultimately lead to well-planned investment
projects and prudent investment decisions.â€
“Caribbean Export is committed to enhancing
the knowledge and skills
of the IPAs of the Caribbean,†commented Suzette Hudson, Senior
Advisor in Investment Promotion at the Agency. “This training forms part of a
broader collaborative framework that CAIPA and UNIDO have established with the
aim to provide investment monitoring and promotion support to IPAs in the
region and strengthen regional investment promotion efforts.
The workshop was funded by the European
Union via the 11th European Development Fund, Regional Private
Sector Development Programme and the European Development Fund/Intra-ACP
Private Sector Development Facilities and Programmes.
Participating countries included: Anguilla, Antigua
and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, the
British Virgin Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica,
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos
Islands. Â Â Â Â Â Â
$3.5 million BBD has been
allocated to CARIFORUM Firms
55 companies will receive grants of
up to $66,000 BBD
Funds have been provided by the
European Union via the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme
The Caribbean
Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in cooperation with the European
Union has awarded over $3.5M BBD (€1.5M) under
their 2nd Call for Proposals for the Direct
Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS).
The 2nd call for proposals
was launched in April of this year and the Agency received 104 grant proposal
applications from across the region and fifty-five (55) proposals have been approved for grant funding.
“It is widely acknowledged that the most
significant impediment noted by CARIFORUM business when it comes to business
development and expansion is the lack of access to finance†informed Damie
Sinanan – Manager, Competitiveness and Export Promotion at Caribbean
Export. “The Direct Assistance Grant
Scheme aims specifically to tackle this issue to enable more companies to
export and grow.â€
The total grant funding awarded to
CARIFORUM firms under the 11th EDF now stands at over $8.3M BBD or €3.7M
and the Agency intends to award more grants in the upcoming year.
Grant funding has been used for a range of projects including food safety certification, equipment modernisation to enable increased production, marketing and branding, product development amongst others.
In 2009, Christal Oliver breathed life into her fashion accessory brand Olive Art Designs (OAD) as she sat in a laboratory at the St. Vincent Girls’ High School stitching together her first bag. Fast forward a decade, and Christal is breathing new life and history into OAD, as the winner of Invest SVG’s inaugural ‘Pitch It Vincy’ initiative.
Last Tuesday, October 29, the Glen resident held off stiff competition from six other finalists to gain the judges’ nod as overall winner – receiving a cash prize of US$2,000 and, probably most importantly, mentorship from industry experts to help grow her business.
“It feels surreal,†mused Christal. “It’s a lot more than a business win. It’s a personal win because it means that I have successfully overcome a few things that were holding back my progress. Developing the right mindset for success and positivity isn’t an easy feat!â€
The 28-year-old entrepreneur was one of many Vincentians who applied when the Angel Investing initiative was launched by Invest SVG in June 2019. Seven finalists were shortlisted in August 2019, and from that point onward, they received expert training through group and one-on-one sessions.
Finalists also took part in a mock pitch event that saw them pitching to local high net-worth business owners, who provided constructive feedback. Christal recalled that the feedback they received during the mock pitch and training sessions was “vital†to their preparations for the final. “The feedback was honest and, at times, we may not have liked what was said; but it was what we needed to hear before going in.â€
She expressed deep gratitude to the staff at Invest SVG, Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) and everyone else who contributed to the preparation period for the finalists. Despite the various challenges faced by the finalists, Christal said it was an overall positive experience because it boosted their confidence and raised awareness of their brands.
“I entered Pitch It Vincy because I saw an opportunity for investment. In St Vincent and the Grenadines, small business owners face difficulty in acquiring capital for their ideas – especially if they don’t have collateral. I believed in my product and I felt that even if I didn’t win, whatever came from it would be exactly what I needed for OAD at this moment,†she explained.
(From left): McHale Andrew (independent consultant and OECS country advisor for Caribbean Business Angels Network); Andy Thorne (owner/founder of Kestrel Liner Agencies Ltd and British entrepreneur); Christal Oliver (Pitch It Vincy 2019 winner); Jeanelle Murray-Noel (Operations Officer, Caribbean Export Development Agency); Reuben John (chartered accountant and Senior Partner at BDO Eastern Caribbean); Nicholas Brisbane, managing partner at O’Garro and Alvanga Architectural Services – St. Kitts & Nevis; entrepreneur)
Christal is a past student of the St Vincent Girls’ High School and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College. She worked at the CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank as a Customer Service Representative for seven years and was the second runner-up in the 2017 Miss SVG pageant. Currently, she is a co-host on the Wake-Up Call morning programme on Xtreme FM radio station; and is “very involved†in the Epic Sounds Steel Orchestra and the Youlou Pan Movement.
“I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for OAD!†enthused Christal.
She divulged that within hours of winning Pitch It Vincy 2019, several opportunities have been presented to her – some of which she is not at liberty to share just yet.
“Investors have expressed interest in the business… It’s only a matter of shaking hands and coming to a final agreement. I’m confident that it’s only going to get better from here. I’m never going to give up!â€
Christal added: “If someone had told me 10 years ago, while I was eagerly stitching that first bag at GHS, that I would win the first Pitch It Vincy… be a fashion accessory designer and have my own business, I would have laughed and walked the other way.â€
She encourages all Vincentian entrepreneurs to take part in Pitch It Vincy 2020, and to start preparing as soon as possible – instead of waiting for the application period to open. Her advice includes: creating a milestone chart with a list of company goals; getting business accounts in order; conduct proper market research; be open-minded and willing to take advice; and gather a support system of people who genuinely care about your success.
Christal also shared that she intends to make OAD an “internationally recognized brand†within the next five years.
“St Vincent and the Grenadines will be known as the origin of one of the best fashion accessory brands in the world and the company will have at least one other brand under its wing.
I’m not sure how it’s going to be, but it will happen!â€
Jamaica has joined 28 other nations, including several Caribbean states, that have developed online investment guides (iGuides).
These facilities are repositories of information for local and foreign investors interested in doing business in the respective countries.
Work to develop the guides was led by local stakeholders, principally countries’ investment promotion agencies in several instances, in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) spearheaded development of the country’s iGuide, which also involved inputs from the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA), and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA).
The information, which is hosted on UNCTAD’s website, can also be accessed on JAMPRO’s platform from any location globally.
Jamaica’s Investment Guide (iGuide) Project Consultant, Michelle Frederick Johnson (left) converses with Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) president, Diane Edwards (centre) ; and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economist, Ian Richards, during the iGuide’s recent launch at JAMPRO’s Head Office In New Kingston.
It facilitates a comparison of Jamaica as an investment destination, alongside other countries globally.
The iGuide is intended to provide investors with information at their fingertips that will help them in their decisions to invest in Jamaica.
Among the focus areas are manufacturing, agri-business, energy, the creative industries, the knowledge sectors, mining, tourism, and the Logistics Hub Initiative (LHI) and the partner Special Economic Zone (SEZ) framework.
A foreign translation feature has also been incorporated to facilitate ease of communication.
The iGuide was formally launched and symbolically handed over recently to JAMPRO President, Diane Edwards, by UNCTAD Economist, Ian Richards, who spearheads the overall investment guide programme.
The agency will serve as the facility’s custodian and will be responsible for, among other things, keeping the site’s information up to date.
The presentation was made during a brief ceremony at JAMPRO’s head office in New Kingston.
Ms. Edwards, who is CAIPA’s Immediate Past President, said the iGuide is an important tool and welcome addition to investment promotion in Jamaica.
Noting that the local investment climate is “extremely positiveâ€, she said the iGuide “is going to take that information out to the world in a form that is really using best practiceâ€.
Ms. Edwards assured that as the country’s national investment and promotion agency, JAMPRO remains committed to improving the business environment.
“Our constant focus is on how do we make it easier for people to do business in Jamaica… . How do we make the business environment more open and how do we make businesses feel more welcome in Jamaica. All of that is important to us,†she said.
Ms. Edwards noted that JAMPRO serves as the Secretariat for the National Competitiveness Council, which manages Jamaica’s business environment reform agenda, intended to ensure that businesses feel the difference that this undertaking is going to make for them.
Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Eric Deans (second left) greets United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economist, Ian Richards during a recent ceremony at Jamaica Promotions Corporation’s (JAMPRO) Head Office in New Kingston to launch Jamaica’s Investment Guide (iGuide). Others (from left) are iGuide Project Consultant, Michelle Frederick Johnson; and JAMPRO President, Diane Edwards.
“Already we see that they are feeling it, because Jamaica recently jumped four places in the [World Bank’s] Doing Business Report, to number 71 out of 140 countries,†she added.
Ms. Edwards encouraged stakeholder interests to utilise the guide and disseminate it “as much as possibleâ€.
“We think it has really good information. We want you to tell everyone about it… that it is a tool, not only for foreign businesses, but for local businesses to use to develop their business cases and present their projects,†she said.
For his part, Mr. Richards said UNCTAD’s aim and role in advancing the iGuide “is really to support the Government in implementing Vision 2030 Jamaica as part of the UN’s overall development assistance frameworkâ€.
This, he noted, is being done in tandem with the other UN and international organisations in Jamaica.
“We know that it has been a difficult time for the region, according to the UNCTAD data, in terms of attracting foreign direct investments. But for Jamaica, I think these are very exciting times,†he said.
Of note, Mr. Richards said, is the Logistics Hub Initiative and accompanying Special Economic Zones.
“We are very excited by that because, given all that Jamaica already has – a good business infrastructure, a supportive government, a good education system, good market access – this will provide spillovers, linkages and opportunities for many different sectors in Jamaica… particularly new sectors… and will also lead to more jobs, more wealth, and more development for the country. So, that’s very important for us,†he added.
The UNCTAD Executive said the organisation is “very happy†to be working with JAMPRO and other stakeholders, to attract and facilitate investment for the “new, exciting and promising sectors in Jamaicaâ€.
Other Caribbean states that he said have developed investment guides are Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia.
“We will be launching one for Curaçao in November next, and early next year, we will be launching iGuides in Barbados and St. Kitts,†Mrs. Richards further informed.
The extent of the platform’s development also incorporates countries in Asia and Africa, among other locations.
Regional
fashion designers who participated in the Caribbean Fashion Accelerator pt2 programme
had nothing but praise for the intense training they received.
They
shared their thoughts at the recently concluded International Fashion Festival
(IFF), held at the Hilton Barbados Resort, where they showcased runway grabbing
designs. Collectively, they said the
experience helped to sharpen their technical skills and exposed them to international
standards.
The
workshop was organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, in
cooperation with the European Union and the Caribbean Market Center and was the
follow-up to an initial accelerator
workshop held in May 2019. It was facilitated by Sandra Carr, one of the
pioneers of the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design at the University of
Trinidad and Tobago. She has also worked with global brands, Calvin Klein and
Valentino.
Sixteen
designers from Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and
Trinidad and Tobago participated. The two-week workshop focused on brand
development and refining the designers’ products for the export market. Designers
were required to collaborate and develop a collection to premiere at the IFF. Ahead of their runway show the designers
received feedback and critique from fashion industry experts Sharifa Murdock,
co-founder and owner of Liberty Fairs; Ouigi
Theodore, founder of the Brooklyn
Circus; Danielle Cooper, a fashion influencer and Channing Hargrove, a
Fashion writer for Refinery
29.
Designers receive expert advice and direction on their collections ahead of the IFF2019 runway show
Barbadian
Carla Gittens and Jamaican Moses Fenell, former reality stars of the television
show Mission Catwalk, produced a line called Maison de Lori et Moses. According
to Carla, “It is classy chic with an essence of swag, that could fit ladies
from 18 to 35 years.â€
During the
two weeks, they learnt about mood boards, colour, fabric and international finishing
techniques. Describing the programme as “very hands-onâ€, they also cut patterns,
sewed and created brand packaging.
Moses believed
the training will help with his goal to export limited edition pieces of his
personal brand, House of Fenell, throughout the Commonwealth. For Carla, the Fashion Accelerator confirmed
that if she wanted her brand ‘Killuh Pieces’ to go global, she needed put a
team in place.
“I learnt
a few tricks. The workshop helped me in getting my brand up to international
standards in finishing and creating designs for individual customers and retail
outlet buyers. But the most important thing I learnt is you can’t do everything
by yourself if you are moving into the international market. For 2020 I am looking into small scale
manufacturing and I definitely need a team,†she noted.
Haitian
designer David Andre said although he has been in the industry for 21 years, he
eagerly said yes to participating in the Caribbean Fashion Accelerator
programme. He believed there was always something new to learn and likened the
workshop to the television show, Project Runway. “We were a bunch of designers
who didn’t know each other, and we had to share ideas to build a collection, so
it was very profitable in terms of what we learnt,†he said.
David
described Ms. Carr as a “very talented woman with a big heart†from whom he
picked up several clues on garment finishes for international markets. He
thanked Caribbean Export for continuing to support the regional fashion. He
added that Caribbean Export helped to opened new markets for his ready-to-wear
and resort lines.
Vincentian
fashion designer, Kimon Baptiste-St. Rose of Kimmysticclo, referred to the Caribbean
Fashion Accelerator Programme as a “very intense two-week bootcampâ€. Stressing she gained tremendously from the
experience, she explained: “It helped me to be more aware about the steps I
need to take in becoming export ready. I sell throughout the Caribbean, but I
would like for my brand to be international.†Thanking Caribbean Export, she
called for greater emphasis going forward to be placed on helping regional
designers locate manufacturing facilities for small scale production.
Designer Laurette
Pierre, known for bridal wear and accessories, was invited to the programme by
Invest SVG, the investment promotions agency of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Not expecting to do an
entire collection and to learn such a wide variety of things, Laurette admitted
the workshop was hectic but worth it.
“I am
going take everything I learnt and apply it to my work. I learnt a lot from the
instructor and things I never really knew. It is hard especially where
finishing the product is concerned because it takes a lot of time but it was worth
it. I enjoyed the experience, it was very educational,†she said.
Laurette
collaborated with Barbadian Alyssa Goddard to produce a structured yet chic semi-casual
collection. Alyssa, owner of Cambria Costumes and Designs, disclosed it was her
first time working so closely with another designer but said her partner was
fun.
Alyssa,
who dreams of making costumes for movies, found out about the Fashion
Accelerator while working at the 4th CARIFORUM EU-Business
Forum in Germany. Having completed the two-week session, she said: “It
was very informative, but it was difficult given that the time frame was
shorter than any time I ever had to work with before. But I learnt a lot, Ms.
Carr is an amazing teacher. I mainly learnt construction techniques that I
didn’t know before and that helps in getting my garments to an international
standard, something that was very important to me.â€
UNESCO and CARIFORUM will organize panel discussions on culture and trade in Bridgetown, Barbados on 5 November 2019. The event marks the launch of “Culture in the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement – Rebalancing trade flows between Europe and the Caribbean?â€, the first impact study on this landmark EPA concluded in 2008, with a dedicated Protocol on Cultural Cooperation.
Cultural and creative industries possess an immense potential to contribute to the region’s long-term economic growth through employment of young people and cultural content productions. The representation of Caribbean cultural products on the global stage, however, is limited. In 2014, as reported in UNESCO’s Global Report Re|Shaping Cultural Policies (2018),Global South countries accounted for only 26.5% of global cultural exports. The public debates, titled Create|2030, will explore ways to establish a more balanced cultural trade and improved mobility for artists in the Caribbean. Cultural trade experts on the panel will examine the future of creative industries and their role in the Caribbean’s sustainable development. Artists and cultural professionals are invited to attend and share their insights and perspective.
The event will also present the main findings of the impact study funded by the UNESCO-Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals and guided by the principles of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005). The research has revealed that the Agreement’s cultural protocol, which grants Caribbean creative workers and their creations a preferential and simplified access to the EU market, has not yet resulted in a more balanced relationship between the two regions’ cultural and creative industries. Despite significant commitments undertaken by the EU, there is currently no dedicated funding or cultural cooperation programme to implement the cultural provisions and benefit the artists. Discussions will therefore focus on unexplored opportunities arising from Article 16 of the UNESCO’s 2005 Convention, the inspiration for the EPA’s cultural protocol, which calls on developed countries to provide “preferential treatment for developing countries†and their artists through various initiatives such as special visas for artists and cultural workers from developing countries or audio-visual coproduction schemes.
Percival Marie, Director General of CARIFORUM, Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados, Eastern Caribbean States, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, and Danielle Cliche, UNESCO Chief of Diversity of Cultural Expressions and Secretary of the 2005 Convention, will deliver remarks.
As seating is limited, please RSVP by 3 November to Andrea Richards at a.richards@unesco.org
Interview opportunities with UNESCO representatives and international cultural trade experts are available to media professionals. To schedule an interview, please contact a.richards@unesco.org
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.