Who
-Who We Are
Caribbean Export is the only regional trade and investment promotion agency in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group. We were established in 1996 by an Inter-Governmental Agreement as the trade promotion Agency of the 15 Member States of CARIFORUM.
Then in July 2005 we assumed an investment promotion mandate after the 14th CARIFORUM Council of Ministers meeting.
We have also established collaborative links with the French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs), with the English and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and with Cuba.
Our Vision
Caribbean Export is a catalyst for regional economic prosperity through strategic interventions on export development and trade and investment promotion
Our Mission
To increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality export development and trade and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic alliances.
Our Evolution
Caribbean Export has evolved over the past 20 years from an Implementing Management Unit of the CARICOM Regional Trade Development Programme (CRTDP) as established in 1988, to the CARICOM Export Development Project (CEDP), which in 1996 became the Caribbean Export Development Agency.
Our Team
At Caribbean Export, our team reflects the diversity of our CARIFORUM region. We bring a multidisciplinary approach and experience to our programme implementation. And our external consultants help us to respond to the specialist needs of our stakeholders and clients.
In addition to the Management Team, each technical officer has both sector and country level responsibilities. This enables the use of their technical skills across the region, as well as an integrated approach to activities at the country level – all to our clients’ benefit.
Our Board
Caribbean Export is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Member States from the public and private sectors. The Board is accountable to the CARIFORUM Council of Ministers. The Agency’s membership base consists of the fifteen (15) Member States of CARIFORUM.
Our key Stakeholders and Partners
We collaborate with a range of partners and stakeholders at national, regional and international levels to achieve our goals.
National collaboration
At the national level we collaborate with relevant government ministries and other public and private sector agencies which provide assistance for business, trade or investment development. These include the official trade and investment promotion agencies, sector associations, and other Business Support Organisations (BSOs).
Furthermore, we are establishing Caribbean Export Councils with stakeholders in member states in which there is no existing national umbrella body.
Regional collaboration
At the regional level, we collaborate with agencies whose work, mandate and objectives complement ours. Our partners include:
• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
• CARICOM organisations
• Sub-regional agencies such as the OECS Export Development Unit (EDU)
• Inter-governmental agencies
• Regional public and private sector agencies
International collaboration
Our partners at the international level provide technical assistance and financial support. The European Union and other bi-lateral organisations provide funding for many of our project and programme initiatives.
Through the establishment of private sector led Steering Committees we ensure that relevant donor funded projects are matched to clients and are successfully implemented.
We also partner with multilateral and international bodies in areas of mutual interest, while seeking to develop programmes which will contribute to our own sustainability.
