Investment Promotion- Promoting CARIFORUM as a single market

Efforts to promote investment encounter unique challenges because of the various enabling environmental factors throughout the region.  The need for improvements in the investment climate is essential to attracting investment that can contribute to sustainable development.

Caribbean Export Development Agency is working to promote CARIFORUM as a single market to attract investment.  This initiative is being spearheaded by Ms Dixie Rampersad who recently joined Caribbean Export as the Senior Investment Promotion Advisor.  Ms Rampersad will be working alongside the Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) in the 15 Member States, and in close collaboration with the recently formed Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) whose Secretariat is located at Caribbean Export.

According to Ms Rampersad, the investment promotion strategy for Caribbean Export/CAIPA is to define a sectoral and geographic focus informed by current research and studies on the regulatory framework, investment climate and status of the sectors in the region to attract FDI.  During the month of September, Ms Rampersad visited IPAs in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Other initiatives for regional investment promotion include representation at the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies seminar in October, IPAs consultation and Website launch in December, and preparation and implementation of an investment climate study, training and study tour early next year.

CAIPA was launched in 2007 to facilitate the collaboration of regional Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs).  The mission of CAIPA is to serve as an umbrella association to enable collaboration between and among regional IPAs with the aim of strengthening the regions visibility as an attractive destination for FDI.

About Caribbean Export
Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is a regional trade and investment organisation of the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM).  Caribbean Export’s mission is to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality trade and investment development and promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic partnerships.

More information about Caribbean Export can be found at www.carib-export.com.  Contact: Cora Lowe, Research and Communication Officer, Caribbean Export Development Agency, Tel: 1+246-436-0578, Fax: 1+246-436-9999, E-mail: clowe@carib-export.com