1. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

2. Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) provides direct financial assistance through its Direct Assistance Scheme to legally registered private sector firms and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) that operate within CARIFORUM Member States. CARIFORUM Member States: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago. HOW CAN WE HELP?

3. The Direct Assistance Scheme Provides funding assistance to companies to enhance their capacity, develop new products or access regional and extra- regional markets. Examples of activities/projects: ASSISTANC E PROVIDED Research Development and Innovation Trade Missions Product development Marketing Quality and environmental systems Promotional material Training Programmes Marketing research Packaging, design Intellectual property activities Implementation of IT solutions

4. Under the 9 th EDF funded Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (Phase 2) – Direct Assistance Scheme Caribbean Export awarded €2,649,953.62 to 197 firms; Programme target 150 firms. Disbursements to date: €913,963.08 Final reimbursement payments to beneficiaries to be made by June 2011 BENEFICIARIES

5. SECTOR/INDUSTRY ASSISTED

6. Seven (7) BSOs received awards totalling €170,000. The types of projects supported were Product and service development; health and wellness tourism development; export market development; trade missions; branding and quality management systems  Associacion de Empresas Industriales de Herrera – Dominican Republic  Jamaica Exporters’ Association  Jamaica Business Development Corporation  Grenada Industrial Development Corporation  Belize Chamber of Commerce  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry & Commerce Inc  Trinidad & Tobago Coalition of Services Industries BENEFICIARIES

7. BSOs partnerships are essential for promoting funding programmes and increasing firms ability to successfully access these schemes. Firms and BSOs require training in specific areas: – EU Funding Procedures – Preparation of EU funding proposals/applications – Assisting firms in preparing reimbursement claims 9 th EDF CTPSDP- LESSONS LEARNT

8. Caribbean Export will be launching the 10 th EDF funded Regional Private Sector Development Programme in April 2011 which will have a New Direct Assistance Scheme for firms and BSOs The New Scheme will build on the success its predecessor, the 9 th EDF Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (CTPSDP). Private sector firms that are exporting or seeking to develop export markets for goods and services will be the target group for this Scheme. THE WAY FORWARD

9. The New Scheme aims to further strengthen the private sector firms in competing in the global economy by providing the necessary financial assistance to: – Develop high value added products – Enhance productivity – Increase production – Open new markets – Introduce new processes for industry, and – Induce changes in industrial oragnisation THE WAY FORWARD

10. The New Scheme will have two types of funding facilities: Facility 1:General direct assistance to private sector firms in all sectors/industry and BSOs. Budget allocation for Delivery of Assistance €3,785,968 Facility 2:Direct assistance to identified high priority niche sectors such as Agro-processing, light manufacturing, fashion, creative industries, professional services, specialised tourism and alternative energy. Budget allocation for Delivery of Assistance €1,456,097 THE WAY FORWARD

11. The New Direct Assistance Scheme documentation is being currently being drafted and will be available to firms/BSOs mid June 2011. The New Funding Scheme will utilise the transparent and fair Call for Proposal mechanism to process applications. There will be at least two(2) call for proposals per year for the General Direct Assistance Scheme and one (1) call for proposals per year for the High Priority Sectors Direct Assistance Scheme. Amounts to be awarded to beneficiaries are to be determined. The funding facilities will be promoted through Caribbean Export’s database and website (www.carib-export.com), EC Delegations, BSOs, and other relevant stakeholders.www.carib-export.com THE WAY FORWARD

12. FACES OF THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE SCHEME

13. QUESTIONS

14. CONTACT: Kirk Brown Senior Grant Advisor kbrown@carib-export.com Thank You