THE Caribbean Export Development Agency will host its third CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, scheduled to take place from April 15 – 16 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The conference, which is organised in collaboration with the ACP Business Climate facility (BizClim), seeks to enhance partnerships between Caribbean businesses and those in Europe, enable public-private dialogue and support the business climate reform agenda in the Caribbean.
Focussing on three sectors: agro-processing (cocoa, herbs and spices), music and higher education the Forum will bring together some 150 key stakeholders from the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Pacific to not only engage in dialogue but to also explore business and trade opportunities during business to business meetings.
“Providing a platform for private sector firms in the region to explore business opportunities with overseas firms and hopefully increase business and penetrate new markets is a fundamental aspect of the Agency’s mandate,” stated Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of Caribbean Export.
Participants at the Forum will include both Caribbean and European SMEs, government ministries, business support organisations, Caribbean export board members and industry experts who will provide business clinics with participating firms to help build capacity required to develop greater market penetration.
Discussions at the Forum will cover an array of topics within the three sectors.