Regional push for exports in Europe

Colin Murdock (l) with Ambassador Valeriano Diaz and Pamela Coke-Hamilton.

By Marlon Madden | Thu, March 29, 2012 - 12:56 PM

The Caribbean Export Development Agency today launched its regional private sector development initiatives aimed at better promoting and marketing the region in Europe.

The initiatives - London 2012, Break Point and the CARIFORUM-EU Business forum - are being carried out in association with the European Union (EU), the UK Department for International Development among other regional and international stakeholders.

Ambassador Colin Murdoch, chairman of the board of directors at Caribbean Export said the three initiatives were "inter-related" and together played a critical role in the continued growth and export potential of the region's private sector businesses and enterprises.

"The common thread that binds the three together is the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Through the planning and execution of these initiatives, Caribbean Export will give the region a much-needed boost in maximizing on the potential of the EPA," said Murdoch.

He was speaking during a media launch at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre earlier today.

He said he believed, with this venture, Caribbean Export was on "the right path" toward fostering an enabling environment where the regional private sector can thrive.

"These initiatives, ladies and gentlemen, represent a paradigm shift for the Agency in terms of how we get regional goods and services to the UK and wider markets".

London 2012 will showcase the Caribbean Brand, Break Point seeks to drive entrepreneurship and the CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum "solidifies the viability of the EPA".