Thirty CARIFORUM firms have been selected from the first two phases of Break Point to participate in coaching before entering the first round of pitches scheduled for June 2012.
The firms chosen represent The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago. Those selected specialize in agro-processing, light manufacturing, fashion/garments and the creative industries, professional services, and specialized tourism.
The next step, according to the Caribbean Export Development Agency, is a one-day coaching programme at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Cave Hill School of Business, which will be followed by two virtual coaching sessions.
This programme will focus on the strengthening of presentation skills and tips on making business pitches. Participants will also get to hear about the opportunities available for CARIFORUM firms under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Break Point is a Caribbean Export business competition for the CARIFORUM 15-member community private sector, to encourage them to take advantage of the EPA.
The competition is open to CARIFORUM majority-owned or joint-venture firms that intend to use the EPA as a tool to immediately target British and European markets for exports. Priority areas include agro-processing, alternative energy, creative industries, fashion/garments, light manufacturing, professional services, and specialized tourism.
Break Point is supported by Britain’s Department for International Development and the European Union’s Tenth European Development Fund Regional Private Sector Development Programme. (MM/PR)
