Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export
The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has announced its inaugural awards program, the Caribbean Exporter of the Year Awards, in recognition of the contribution made by the region’s exporters to the regional economy.
During the media launch held at the Agency’s headquarters in Barbados, executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton, stressed, “Now is the time to support our exporters and assist them to expand further, because in so doing, we are not only helping a firm increase its bottom line, but moreover we are impacting the economic well-being of our entire region and our people.”
The executive director brought to the audience’s attention that in 2013 the total CARIFORUM exports were estimated to be US$51 billion, with the average contribution of exports to GDP 17 percent for goods and 36 percent for services.
“At this period in our region’s history, where economic growth is projected to be marginal for 2015, Caribbean Export believes in the power that exporters have to contribute to sustainable growth,” she commented further.
The Agency’s launch of the Caribbean Exporter of the Year Awards is supported by the European Union as part of the 10th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme and is hoped to foster and strengthen a greater export culture throughout the Caribbean by giving significant recognition to the winners and sending a strong message to current and potential buyers, investors or other stakeholders that these exporters are market leaders and successful business persons.
Charge d’affaires of the delegation of the EU to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Silvia Kofler, congratulated Caribbean Export for taking the initiative and “challenged the private sector to take this initiative and to capitalise on possibilities for export. Even with capacity issues the private sector needs to take advantage of the provisions of the EPA.”
Also at the launch event, Barbados minister of industry, international business, commerce and small business development, Donville Inniss, disclosed that his ministry had recently taken on responsibility for the Economic Partnership Agreement, and intended to work closely with the EU and Caribbean Export to ensure that greater access to the European market would become a reality for exporters.
There are six awards available: Emerging Exporter of the Year; Young Exporter of the Year; Female Exporter of the Year; Green Exporter of the Year; Caribbean Exporter of the Year and a Special Award for Excellence in Services Exports.
Source: Caribbean News Now
