Women Empowered through Export (WE-XPORT)
WE-Xport was designed to support Caribbean women in business to start exporting or increase the exports of their products and services.
WE-XPORT Participants- Cohort 1
WE-XPORT Business Coaches – Cohort 1
WE-XPORT Participants & Business Coaches
Meet EcoFarms
Grace Foster-Reid formed EcoFarms with a vision to create 100 among marginalized people. This family-owned social enterprise is run by a MIT-graduate Engineer and a team of dedicated employees.
EcoFarms innovate honey. We utilize sustainable technology to produce organic-quality products. We strategically position our bees in remote areas near orchards of coffee, logwood, orange, flowering trees and crops. Honey from these apiaries is transported to our factory where it is bottled as raw organic-quality honey or used as the main raw material in our products. These products include:
– Buzz HoneyStix – a natural, healthy snacks formed by blending our honey with natural flavours ranging from tamarind to ginger.
– Buzz Mead – this gold medal honey wine is created when we ferment honey with exotic tropical fruit.
– Other products include flavoured honey, pollen and wax candles.
EcoFarms recently partnered with the Jamaica Deaf Village to train deaf youth as beekeepers.
Meet Hot Mama’s Belize Ltd
Manufacturer of high quality habanero pepper products, which includes different heat levels of hot sauces. Gourmet sauces which includes sweet pepper, mango, mustard and steak & BBQ sauces. Seasonal tropical fruit jellies. Habanero pepper mash (regular and smoked). we also offer private labeling. The products can be packaged in several sizes.
Meet Caribbean Cure
The 5 healing teas are handcrafted with premium organic ingredients which contain no additives or artificial flavours. We feature local healing ingredients and pair them with aromatic natural herbs, flowers and barks to ensure our tea drinkers enjoy maximum wellness in every cup.
OUR FIVE (5) SIGNATURE BLENDS:
Caribbean Sunrise – this is nature’s ultimate elixir and it provides an antioxidant boost and contains anti-inflammation properties.
Moringa Rainforest – We have paired the incredible immune boosting natural tea to create a flawless, delicious and healthy experience.
Carnival Oasis – This tea combines the earthy and aromatic combinations of lightly sweetened cinnamon and mauby bark with a base of red bush tea and a few hints of spices.
Tropical Relaxation – The is a global tea championship winning sleepy time tea.
Island Breeze – This international award-winning delicate tea blend is light and delicately balanced.
Meet Handelmaatschappij L. Willemsberg N.V.
Handelmaatschappij L. Willemsberg was originally founded in 1961 by Mr. Leonel E.H. Willemsberg, as a sole proprietorship trading in various food items. Today, the General Manager and also the biggist shareholder of the company is Mrs. Susan Tjong A Hung-Willemsberg. Our employees mainly consist of female workers, managers and supervisors. In February 1993, the company was transformed into a Public Limited Company. Meanwhile, Willemsberg N.V. also imported peeled peanuts (groundnuts) for local peanut butter producers. After gaining years of expertise in importing high quality peeled peanuts, Mr. L. Willemsberg’s son, namely Mr. Clifton Willemsberg, decided in 1980 to start with the production of peanut butter under the name of WIPPY (derived from the name Willemsberg).
Meet Sugar Town Organics
Sugar Town Organics is a mother and daughter led health and wellness company utilizing indigenous agricultural produce to create bold and adventurous products mired in Caribbean culture. Together the duo and their team create farm fresh cosmetics and food products packed with raw, organic, active ingredients to promote good health and wellbeing. The company focuses on its two product lines Yaphene an organic beauty brand that delves into Caribbean culture and its influences, to create every day beauty products infused with the regions inate multi racial approach to beauty that will be tracked on our wearable technology. Under the food brand Flauriel the company focuses on fresh herbs, foods, spices and marine material to create food aids and accompaniments to promote healthy eating but also sustainable use of natural resources. Our aim is to do our part to promote through practice sustainable resource management to sustain healthy lives while regenerating our cultural practices.
Meet Tambran by Tamara
Tambran by Tamara is a luxury eco-jewelry brand that specialised in the creation of one of a kind, handmade, statement jewelry and accessories from the transformation of recycled materials and naturals seeds and fibres. We presently work with used vinyl banners, plastic bottles, tamarind (Tambran) seeds and Donkey eye seeds, palm husks, and many other materials. We product vibrant, unique “conversation starting” necklaces, earrings, clutches, etc for the modern woman. Our main aim is to make women ‘stand out’ and reflect their truest self aesthetically, while maintaining our mantra of promoting zero waste. We partner with companies accross the Caribbean to experiment with their “production material ends” and create thus jewelry and accessories to give these materials new life. We are based in Grenada but our products have reached as far as Asia and Europe. We continue to soar!
Meet Kapril Industrial Laboratorio
Kapril Industrial: Empresa productora de Cosméticos Capilares, fundada, por un grupo de accionistas dominicanos, profesionales de la carrera de Química.
En el año 2005, salió al mercado por primera vez la marca KAPRIL con la Línea de cuidado para el cabello elaborada base de proteínas y vitaminas compuesta por cinco productos, con lo cual se dio a conocer y se ganó la aceptación del público consumidor.
Con la colaboración de un buen equipo de trabajo y después de varios años de esfuerzos, Kapril Industrial ha desarrollado una política de expansión, a través de toda una gama de productos para el cuidado del cabello. En la actualidad contamos con unos setenta (70) productos diferentes, con la marcas comerciales: Kapril, Lisanel, Herbafresh, Nice Plus.
En sus inicios nuestros productos solo se comercializados en la República Dominicana, actualmente esta empresa está exportando de Cuba, Puerto Rico, Curazao y Haití, Tiene planes de expandirse a otros mercados internacionales.
Translation
Kapril Industrial: A company of Capillary Cosmetics, founded by a group of Dominican shareholders that are professionals in the Chemistry industry.
In 2005, the KAPRIL brand was launched for the first time with a line of care for hair, made with a base of proteins and vitamins comprised of five products, raising it profile and winning the acceptance of the consuming public.
With the collaboration of a good team and after several years of efforts, Kapril Industrial has developed a policy of expansion, through a range of hair care products. At present we have about seventy (70) different products, with the trademarks: Kapril, Lisanel, Herbafresh, Nice Plus.
In the beginning our products were only sold in the Dominican Republic, but now it is currently exporting to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Curacao and Haiti. It has plans to expand to other international markets.
Meet Designs By Nadia
Nadia Jabour is a Caribbean jewelry designer, originally from Guyana and living in St Lucia. ‘Designs by Nadia’ – produces one-of-a-kind designs and limited collections created from indigenous and naturally occurring material, such as seeds, fish scales, sea glass, leather and metals from the region. The pieces exude a sensual femininity that instinctively complements the wearer – it is best described as a “kind of empowerment”or ” a conversation piece.” Her latest accomplishment was one of 40 designers chosen to be part of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange at Buckingham Palace in London.
“I have always had a desire to create with a difference.” My recent line now includes wearable art, a collaboration with artists using coconut pieces as a canvas within my designs.” I opened Island Mix art emporium in St Lucia 3 years ago as home to my collections and workshop and to showcase regional arts.
Designs by Nadia are available in Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Grenada and on line.
Meet The Lindengrove Corp
Overnight accommodation for vacationers & corporate guests in a very relaxed, luxurious, and secluded facility.
Space rental for small corporate functions and/or small special events.
Caribbean-Fusion hands-on culinary day tours currently being sold by Tropical Adventure, a local tour operator, to the cruise lines.
Meet Pablo Arroyo
Pablo Arroyo is a CGBP (Certified Global Business Professional) from NASBITE and CME (Certified Marketing Executive) from SMEI (Sales and Marketing Executives International). Pablo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science (International Agriculture and Ag. Economics) from the University of Missouri, and an MBA degree from the University of South Florida-Tampa (Marketing and International Business). He has 17 years of experience in business development as owner and business counselor in the public and private sectors. Pablo provides strategic export-expansion plans for companies from diverse sectors with emphasis on manufacturing, technology, agribusiness, food, tourism, hospitality, entrepreneurship and value added enterprise development. Originally from Puerto Rico, Pablo is fluent in Spanish and English.
Meet Luis Ortiz
Mr. Ortiz provides technical and business advice to numerous small firms in the areas of business plan development, financial analysis, marketing and competitive analysis, FastTrac® entrepreneurial courses facilitation, SBIR/STTR proposal assistance, coaching and mentoring. Mr. Ortiz has spent over 20 years in the engineering, architectural, construction (EAC) profession having worked as a planner, project/operations manager and executive for one of the nation’s premier engineering firms. In this capacity Mr. Ortiz managed a Construction Management/Engineering company in Mexico City and served as Project Manager or Project Executive on a number of large, significant projects. Luis earned an MA degree in Economic Geography from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA, magna cum laude, in Social Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. Luis is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Portuguese.
Meet Jason Grullon
Jason is the co-founder of the ethical fashion brand VIRTUROCKS and the ethical fashion platform DelCayo. He is a Social Entrepreneur bred in the Dominican Republic and a former consultant for international development agencies like GIZ, unicefand UNDP. After his MA in law and business in 2015, he decided to co-create Virtū in order to help in bringing fairness and innovation to the production of garments around the world, starting with his country. He’s in charge of corporate vision, social development and market disruption.
Benefits
- Access to grant funding
- Access to finance workshops and technical assistance to meet the requirements of funding institutions
- Online business training and webinars
- A personal Business Coach
- Participating in our inaugural Women’s Conference with business networking opportunities
- Advocacy campaigns to give a voice to female entrepreneurs
Criteria
To participate in this programme your business must meet these minimum requirements:
- Registered and based in a CARIFORUM Member State
- At least 51% owned by a woman/women
- Managed daily and controlled by one or more women
- Has been in operation for at least 2 years
- Business shows consistent sales growth
- Has a basic staff structure in place
- Products or services are ready to expand in existing or new markets
- Maintains business and financial records
- Has a product or services that has export potential or is already exporting.