This session will review the development cooperation provisions of the EPA Agreement and examine the role of the institutions charged with the responsibility of the provision of development assistance. This discussion should emphasize the need for strategic planning when requesting assistance or cooperation and the importance of technical assistance utilized for capacity building. Presentation by Carlos Wharton - Senior Trade Policy Advisor

1. EPA TECHNICAL WORKSHOP
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
MARCH 10-11 2011

2. Caribbean Export Development Agency
• Caribbean Export is the Regional Trade and Investment
Promotion Agency
• Formally established on January 01, 1996
• Intergovernmental Agreement signed by 15
CARIFORUM States
• Head Office is located in Barbados
• Sub –regional Office is located in the Dominican
Republic
• Antigua & Barbuda Board Member is Amb. Colin
Murdoch

3. EPA IMPLEMENTATION
1) Firms and entrepreneurs have the capacity to take
advantage of the new trade regime offered under
the EPA (and by extension all other bilateral and
multilateral trade agreements)
2) Government agencies (such as customs) are
equipped with tools and human resources to
monitor, regulate and evaluate trade flows and
patterns
3) Ensure that the necessary regulatory framework
accommodate new commitments taken with the
various trade instruments

4. EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS
1) The EPA builds on the Development provisions
of the Cotonou Agreement which will remain
in effect until 2020 (Article 2).
2) Development cooperation provisions covered in
Part One of the EPA (Articles 1-8) as well as in
the other Titles of the Agreement

5. EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS
1) Building human, legal and institutional
capacity
2) Promotion of private sector enterprise
development
3) Diversification of exports
4) Enhancing technological and research
capabilities
5) Development of Innovation systems

6. EPA DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROVISIONS
(SERVICES)
1) Improving access to market intelligence
2) Improving the export capacity of service
suppliers
3) Promoting Investment and Joint ventures
between service suppliers
4) Facilitating dialogue between CARIFORUM and
EC Service Suppliers

7. 9th EDF CARIBBEAN TRADE & PRIVATE SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
1) 9th EDF package aimed at improving the
competitiveness of CARIFORUM Firms
2) Phase II of the CTPSDP ended on 31.12.10
3) Total Value of Phase II was approx. €6.5M
4) The main objective of the Programme was to
support CARIFORUM firms so as to enable
them successfully trade in a global
environment

8. 9th EDF CARIBBEAN TRADE & PRIVATE SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
1) Increased competitiveness of firms through market
expansion and export diversification support
2) A vibrant Caribbean Business and Investment
Support Network with Strengthened Business and
Support Organisations
3) Greater Cooperation Between the CARIFORUM
Business Sector and that of the FCOR and OCT
4) Improvement of the Regulatory Environment for
Private Sector Development

9. Highlights of the 9th CTPSDP
• Over 1,400 persons trained in 54 activities covering all
CARIFORUM States, Martinique, Guadeloupe and
Curacao, Select EU Member States;
• 198 SMEs and BSOs received grants for a total value of
€2,649,954 covering all 15 CARIFORUM States;
• Creation and/or strengthening of regional networks in:
Music, Audiovisual, Fashion, Architects, Engineers,
Health and Wellness, Universities, Management
Consultants, & Information and Communications
Technologies;
• 5 New Markets explored for Caribbean products
• 46 BSOs directly assisted outside the grant programme

10. Global Activities by Work Programme Area
Global Benefits
Training at National Level
5%
12%
34% Participation in Regional
/Extra-regional Activities
Direct Assistance Scheme
44%
Host Country Benefits
5%
Consultancy (s) Awarded
to Nationals

11. Data Evaluated by Country Groupings (2010)
Antigua Total Benefits to Member States Belize Dominican
and 2% Republic
Barbuda
Dominica 4%
Bahamas
1%
FCORs/OCTs
Barbados 2%
1%
2% Non-Caribbean
13% Grenada
16%
Trinidad 3%
and
Tobago Guyana
9% 1%
Haiti
Suriname 0%
2%
Jamaica
St. Vincent 35%
and the
Grenadines
St. 5% St. Kitts
Lucia and Nevis
4% 2%

12. Direct Assistance to Sectors and/or Industries
Tourism
Retail
Professional Services
Mining
Manufacturing
ICT
Health & Wellness
Creative Industries
Business Support Organisations
Automotive
Apiculture
Agro-Processing
Agriculture
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

13. Direct Assistance to Sectors and/or Industries
Professional Retail Agriculture Agro-Processing
Services 1% Tourism 3% 19%
14% 3%
Mining
Apiculture
0%
Manufacturing 8%
22%
ICT Creative Automotive
Health & 1%
5% Industries
Wellness
14% Business
6%
Support
Organisations
4%

14. 10th EDF REGIONAL TRADE & PRIVATE SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Total Value €28.3M
– Enhancing competitiveness and promoting innovation
among CARIFORUM’s private sector
– Promoting trade and export development among
CARIFORUM States
– Promoting stronger trade and investment relations
between CARIFORUM, FCOR and EU OCTs
– Promoting stronger trade and investment relations
between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic
– Strengthening the institutional capacity of Caribbean
Export

15. Enhancing Competitiveness and Innovation
– Regional Investment Promotion Strategy developed
– IPAs and the Caribbean Association of Investment
Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) strengthened
– Export and export ready firms provided with financial
assistance
– Participation in Expo on periphery of London Olympics
– Creation of Caribbean Exporter of the Year Award
– Inner City Program for export development and
entrepreneurship
– High potential niche sectors strengthened
– Develop a regional strategic framework to foster
innovation

16. Promoting Trade and Export Development
– Regional Trade and Market Intelligence system developed
– Regional Export Strategy drafted and promoted
– Caribbean Economic Outlook publication and information
portal launched
– Knowledge of bilateral, regional, and international trade
agreements by the private sector increased
– Increased understanding and utilization of IPR as a trade
development tool by governments and private sector
– Capacity of BSOs to provide wider range and quality of
services strengthened
– Formal establishment and operationalization of the
CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.

17. Promoting Trade and Investment with
FCORs and OCTs
– Knowledge of respective trade and investment laws and
regulations increased.
– Export opportunities among CARIFORUM/FCORS/OCTs
identified and exploited.
– Operations of the Joint CARIFORUM/FCORS/OCTs Task
Force on Trade and Investment continued

18. Promoting Trade and Investment with
FCORs and OCTs EPA AWARENESS &
INFORMATION
EXCHANGE
DIRECT ASSISTANCE
& PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
FCOR
COOPERATION
TRADE PROMOTION
EDF/ERDF
Task Force MARKET
INTELLGENCE
On
Trade & Investment
COOPERATION
TRADE PROMOTION
OCT
MARKET
INTELLIGENCE
INFORMATION
EXCHANGE
DIRECT ASSISTANCE
& PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT

19. Promoting Trade and Investment between
CARICOM and the Dominican Republic
– Knowledge of respective trade and investment laws and
regulations increased
– Export opportunities between CARICOM/DR identified
and exploited
– Operations of the CARICOM/DR Forum continued

20. 10th RPSDP EDF Activities
– Direct Assistance to SME’s and BSO’s
– Support in the implementation of trade related agreements
– Promoting Investment via the strengthening of CAIPA
– Support to Priority Sectors
– Capacity building via training, workshops, seminars…
– Supporting networks and exchange of best practices
– Quality enhancement and promotion of standards
– Business Intelligence Support
– Market intelligence
– Commercial missions and trade shows
– Enhancing the regulatory framework via public private sector
dialogue, studies, surveys...

21. Other Activities Being Implemented in 2011
– Design Caribbean – October 2011- Dominican Republic
– CartFund Supported projects:
• Agro-processing
– Specialty Food Diagnostic and Strategy Study to increase the use of an
evidence-based approach in the development of the regional specialty
food sector
– Promotion of CARIFORUM Specialty Food Products to increase the
capacity of specialty food enterprises to penetrate new markets
• Spa and Wellness
– Market Research and Strategy Development for improving the
capability of the sector in CARIFORUM
– Marketing and Promotion with a view to raising the Caribbean’s
international H& W profile
– Standards Development for improved quality of goods and services

22. CONTACT:
CARLOS WHARTON
Senior Trade Policy Advisor
cwharton@carib-export.com
Thank You