The recently held CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum drew record numbers of senior level European and Caribbean policy makers, European buyers and Caribbean exhibitors, to the 4th hosting of the event and the first ever to be held in Frankfurt, Germany.

Three MOUs were signed between the Caribbean Export Development Agency and key stakeholders in Europe, namely, the BVMW (Der Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft), the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) and the Caribbean Council.

On 26-28 September 2019, Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Union and GIZ hosted the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum. Over 200 participants witnessed the signing of the MOUs which were put in place to ensure continued success of the strategic sectors and collaboration between the two regions.

“The CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum was designed as a platform to do exactly this – to strengthen business networks and foster a closer trade and investment relationship between the Caribbean and in this case Europe” informed Anthony Bradshaw, Officer in Charge, Caribbean Export.

“The Business Forum’s main objectives are to create awareness about the EPA, to promote business opportunities and to identify key sectors that will become the economic drivers assisting both regions – but particularly the Caribbean – to reap the benefits of the EPA”

Minister of Trade and CARICOM Affairs from Grenada, the Hon. Oliver Joseph thanked the Caribbean’s partners, the European Commission and GIZ as well as the new partners LAV, BVMW and the Caribbean Council with whom MOUs were signed, for supporting the Caribbean and its peoples use of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, “We need to take full advantage of this agreement. We must also realize that as a region, as small developing economies, we cannot do it alone. And so I want to thank our partners in Europe, the European Commission, the GIZ, our new friends in Germany, the LAV and the BVMW, the Caribbean Council from the UK… you are helping us and will be helping us to make the EPA work for the peoples of the Caribbean.”

“Making business work for the people of the Caribbean is our commitment as an Agency. If there is a way, we will make it happen.” Bradshaw said in closing.