• Regional agency highly praised by ministers and stakeholders on landmark 30th Anniversary.
• Caribbean Export celebrated longevity with partners and released 2025 Annual Report.
• Results Report shows 4,400 business professionals benefitted from 72 programmes last year.

The enduring, powerful, and direct impact of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) on thousands of regional business owners was celebrated at an impressive gala event held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados on 16 April 2026.

Local and regional government ministers, international stakeholders, diplomats, and beneficiaries attended the informative and inspirational occasion which jointly recognised the agency’s 30th milestone and featured the fourth iteration of its Annual Results Report.

Guests were entertained by Barbadian saxophonist Zukeli Inniss and sensational teen singer Skky Dowridge ahead of opening remarks by the Chairperson of Caribbean Export’s Board of Directors, Dr Lynette Holder.

In her address, Dr Holder lavished praise on the agency’s ability to continually adapt and adjust which had seen it move from being in the red to the black and take on new development partners alongside the European Union such as the Inter-American Bank, Republic Bank, and the Canadian government.

“Three decades is a significant milestone by any measurement,” Dr Holder said. “For Caribbean Export it represents 30 years of evolving with the needs of our region, supporting enterprises, strengthening export readiness, promoting investment, and helping Caribbean businesses position themselves in an increasingly competitive global economy.”

Focusing on the achievements noted in the 2025 report, Dr Holder stated: “This report for the last fiscal period reflects not just activity but purpose. It speaks to an organisation that continues to sharpen its relevance, strengthen its delivery, and remain focused on impact. It reflects the discipline of an institution that understands the importance of stewardship of resources, partnership, and trust.”

Caribbean Export’s Executive Director, Dr Damie Sinanan, recalled the 20,000 beneficiaries the agency has assisted since it opened it’s office in 1996 through projects cumulatively valued $126m (US), and with $60m (US) in grants awarded. He added: “These are not just statistics they represent a commitment that Caribbean Export has given to the region for 30 years. One that was built on relationships directly with business owners, communities and community leaders and to the belief that the private sector is central to our region’s prosperity, resilience, and future.”

Dr Sinanan also emphasised the agency’s new dedication to dealmaking and investment facilitation which is embodied in its annual flagship ‘Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF)’ event which was held over three days in Jamaica last year. CIF 2025 attracted 400 participants from 39 countries and presented 12 investment-ready projects. In 2026, CIF will take place in Barbados.

Looking ahead, Dr Sinanan invited all the organisations present to continue to join with the agency for the benefit of the region and thanked Caribbean Export’s development partners for their unwavering support.

EU representative, Dr Florian Luetticken, suggested “the best is yet to come” as he underscored the trust that the agency enjoys after partnering with the European Union for so many years. He renewed the EU’s commitment to shared trade, prosperity, and economic growth with the Caribbean.

Counsellor (Development) and Head of Cooperation in the Eastern Caribbean from the High Commission of Canada, Abebech Assefa, explained why Canada is happy to partner with Caribbean Export. “We see strong potential in continuing to work together, supporting entrepreneurs, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that economic growth is shared,” she said.

Barbados’ Minister of Training and Tertiary Education, Sandra Husbands, added her congratulations on the agency’s 30-year milestone as well as the launch of the 2025 Annual Results Report. But she urged Caribbean Export to work more closely with government ministries, especially in terms of equipping young people looking to start their own businesses and leverage new technology. “Our region’s progress depends not only on financing and market access,” Ms Husbands stated, “but it is on developing skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial confidence that will enable our people to innovate, produce and lead. Institutions like Caribbean Export help to bridge that gap.”

A thought-provoking spoken word segment from award winning poet, Akeem Chandler-Presod aka ‘Stoned with Cupid’ preceded an address from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Minister of Education, Vocational Training, Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information, Philip Jackson, delivered via Zoom. He encouraged entrepreneurs, Caribbean Export and its development partners to continue taking “bold steps” together to realise the Caribbean’s full potential through offering “the best of our regional assets”.