3rd Meeting of the Steering Committee of the 9th EDF CTPSDP

Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) organised the 3rd Meeting of the Steering Committee (SC) of the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (CTPSDP) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on December 3, 2008. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Fabian Griffin, Deputy Regional Authorizing Officer, and was attended by Ambassador Willys Ramirez, Assistant Secretary General of CARIFORUM, Mr. Philip Williams, Executive Director of Caribbean Export, Mr. Collin Bully, Executive Director of the OECS Export Development Unit, Mrs. Camille Wildman of the European Commission’s (EC) Delegation in Barbados and Mr. Jean Marc Ruiz of the EC Delegation in Dominican Republic. Also in attendance were private sector representatives from Dominican Republic, Mr. Juan Guiliani, and Grenada, Mrs. Cecile La Grenade. The Chairman of Caribbean Export’s Board of Directors, Mr. Samuel Chandler, participated in the meeting via a video conference from Barbados. 

This meeting reviewed the implementation of the 2nd Phase of the CTPSDP and adopted the work programme up to mid 2009.

The CTPSDP, which is funded by the European Union in the framework of its cooperation with the CARIFORUM States, has the objective of contributing to the gradual integration of CARIFORUM countries into the world economy by enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The programme includes support for the improvement of the trade environment as well as the institutional strengthening of business support organisations with a view to enhancing the range and quality of their services.

It was agreed that the 4th Meeting of the SC will take place in the Bahamas in June 2009.