Caribbean Export explores technical management unit to support Regional trade

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has explored the establishment of a technical management unit (TMU) to assist exporters from the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) states that are interested in entering the French Caribbean market.

Following the successful hosting in the Cayman Islands, of a business forum for private sector firms, Caribbean Export has also explored ways to assist French Caribbean exporters with market information on the CARIFORUM region.

According to the St Kitts and Nevis Observer newspaper, while a number of business support organizations (BSOs) in the region have already started the process of assisting firms to export to the French Caribbean, Caribbean Export is also aware that they face challenges in doing so.

The TMU is pegged to help address issues such as the provision of market research and intelligence in doing business in the FCORs; assist with meeting language and cultural requirements; identify key contacts and the coordination of trade fairs and market visits to facilitate buyer/seller contacts.

Additionally, whilst the issues of facilitating trade is required, other barriers to trade, such as costly air and sea transportation and the taxes such as Octroi de Mer that have direct implications on the ability of CARIFORM firms to trade in the French Caribbean, must also be addressed in order to further advance in true intra-regional trade for the benefit of the entire Caribbean.

Read more at:St Kitts and Nevis Observer