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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), as part of its mandate to promote export-led growth for the Caribbean region and to facilitate increased exports to regional and international markets, will launch the first Caribbean Export Week on Sunday.

The week of activities, aimed at raising the level of awareness about Caribbean Export, in particular the work being undertaken as part of the 10th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, commences with an Ecumenical Service on March 17 and features a two-day Caribbean Exporters’ Colloquium during the week, where industry leaders will discuss key issues relating to exporting from the Caribbean to the international market.

Speakers at the Caribbean Exporters’ Colloquium being held in Barbados on March 20-21, 2013, include Dr Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who will give a keynote address on the first day of the event.

Those attending the two-day event will be challenged to take an in-depth look at the report of the West Indian Commission – Time for Action, followed by an analysis of the regions exports. Panelists, including Anthony Hylton, minister of industry, investment and commerce for Jamaica; Sir Shridath Ramphal, former chairman, The West Indian Commission; Ryan Pinder, minister of financial services, The Bahamas; and Prof. Victor Bulmer-Thomas of London University and UCL Institute of the Americas, London, will discuss the issues raised in the report and assess the region’s current export performance in light of developments taking place at the global level.

“Caribbean Export Week is an important step towards ensuring that regions leaders and the private sector sit down together discuss the issues at hand with a view to realising a new framework for export development,” said Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director for Caribbean Export.

Other key activities during the week include a special breakfast meeting for the newly convened Private Sector Advisory Group, a private screening of the Built to Last documentary and Caribbean Export’s official office opening and cocktail reception.

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