Bridgetown,
Barbados, October 15, 2019 –

The
recently held CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum drew record numbers of
senior level European and Caribbean policy makers, European buyers
and Caribbean exhibitors, to the 4th
hosting of the event and the first ever to be held in Frankfurt,
Germany.

Three
MOUs were signed between the Caribbean Export Development Agency and
key stakeholders in Europe, namely, the BVMW (Der Bundesverband
mittelständische Wirtschaft), the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) and the Caribbean Council.

On
26-28 September 2019, Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean
Export) in collaboration with the European Union and GIZ hosted the
4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum. Over 200 participants witnessed
the signing of the MOUs which were put in place to ensure continued
success of the strategic sectors and collaboration between the two
regions.

"The
CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum was designed as a platform to do exactly
this - to strengthen business networks and foster a closer trade and
investment relationship between the Caribbean and in this case
Europe"
informed Anthony Bradshaw, Officer in Charge, Caribbean Export.

"The
Business Forum's main objectives are to create awareness about the
EPA, to promote business opportunities and to identify key sectors
that will become the economic drivers assisting both regions - but
particularly the Caribbean - to reap the benefits of the EPA"

Minister of Trade and CARICOM Affairs from Grenada, the Hon. Oliver Joseph at the event’s thanked the Caribbean’s partners, the European Commission and GIZ as well as the new partners LAV, BVMW and the Caribbean Council with whom MOU’s were signed, for supporting the Caribbean in its peoples use of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA.

“We need to take full advantage of this agreement. We must also realize that as a region, as small developing economies, we cannot do it alone. And so I want to thank our partners in Europe, the European Commission, the GIZ, our new friends in Germany, the LAV and the BVMW, the Caribbean Council from the UK… you are helping us and will be helping us to make the EPA work for the peoples of the Caribbean.”

"Making
business work for the people of the Caribbean is our commitment as an
Agency. If there is a way, we will make it happen."
Bradshaw said in closing.

About
Caribbean Export

Caribbean
Export is a regional development organisation designed to encourage
export and trade for the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM). It is
currently implementing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP),
which is funded by the European Union as part of the 11th
European
Development Fund (EDF). Caribbean Export's mission is to increase the
competitiveness of the Caribbean countries by providing effective
programmes and strategic alliances for export development and by
promoting trade and investment.