Sector Meetings of Caribbean SMEs: Audiovisual, Fashion, Health & Wellness and ICT

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Over 50 Caribbean businesspersons from the Audiovisual, Fashion, Health and Wellness and ICT  sectors participated in various meetings organised by Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The meetings were opened by H.E. Mrs. Patricia Fortier, Ambassador of Canada to the Dominican Republic and Mr. Philip Williams, Executive Director of Caribbean Export. While welcoming the participants, Ambassador Fortier stressed Canada’s commitment to the Caribbean region and its willingness to work together with institutions such as Caribbean Export in favour of the sustainable development of the CARIFORUM States.

The Agenda included, business to business meetings, workshops tailored to the needs of each sector, as well as site visits. The meeting facilitated the strengthening of the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Association (CSWA) and the Caribbean Fashion Industry Forum (CAFIF). Steps were also taken to foster the creation of similar regional institutions for the ICT and Audiovisual sectors.

The Audiovisual sector concentrated on the promotion of co-production agreements in the region and the establishment of links between the public and private stakeholders. The ICT participants discussed challenges and opportunities related to the formation of regional clusters to offer competitive services to markets in the wider Caribbean and beyond.

During the closing session the Director of CAFIF, Mr. Kingsley Cooper, noted the need to develop a sector strategy, which would recognise the importance of linking the fashion industry with the Sea Island Cotton Industry. He thanked Caribbean Export, for facilitating the expansion of CAFIF membership to include companies from Dominican Republic and thus enabling the Dominican Republic to participate in major regional fashion initiatives such as the Caribbean Fashion Week.

Mr. Tomas Hungría, outgoing Chairman of CSWA, while also expressing his appreciation for the assistance provided by Caribbean Export and the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada, highlighted the need for a Caribbean Brand for the sector. This would focus on ‘natural’, ‘indigenous’ and ‘health and wellbeing’. It was noted that collaboration between the industry and academic and standards institutions throughout the Caribbean would also assist in strengthening of a regional brand. 

The meeting was funded by the European Union in the framework of the 9th EDF Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Support Programme (CTPSDP) managed by Caribbean Export 

Please refer to the programmes attached.