Director, Priority International Denis St Bernard
CARIBBEAN NEEDS TO DEVELOP DIASPORA COMMERCIAL POINTS TO ENHANCE EXPORTS
Jamaica and the Caribbean need to effectively strategise with its Diaspora population and create more commercial points in an effort to enhance exports, cited St. Bernard, spokesperson for the UK Caribbean Diaspora Business Network, he was addressing the Caribbean Enterprise Network (CENUK) trade and Investment Seminar for UK Caribbean SMEs on 22nd October at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission and Export TT.
The focus of the seminar was on ‘How to access new Markets – How to seek Sponsorship and Grants – How to export to Emerging Markets’.
Where SMEs learnt the ropes on how to improve their business prospects in a competitive global market from highly experienced and accomplished businessmen and women.
The target audience comprised the Caribbean Diaspora SMEs who are interested in:
1: Importing products/services from the Caribbean into the UK
2: Doing business with Emerging Markets e.g. African countries
In this regard, what information do they need?
1: Practical steps to take:(CENUK can provide services to assist in conducting market research etc).
Understand the market i.e. needs and preferences, customs, habits etc
Market entry requirements tariff/non-tariff barriers
Distributor requirements modus operandi, sponsorship requests etc
(l-r) Mark Dalgety, Wendel Clement and Denis St Bernard (Standing)
2. Practical guide to doing business with Africa
3. Guide to financing start-up or expansion of business:
Business Angel vs Venture Capitalist
Grants and UK/EU funding
St. Bernard’s contribution:-
‘Our home countries need to see each of its Diaspora citizens as potential ‘commercial attaches’, creating micro trade projects, with deliverables, incentives etc to drive exports within their various sectors. Caribbean Diaspora citizens in the UK currently work and do business in every sector in the UK; this means that they are well positioned to influence and or facilitate exports / trade from their home country, if given the right tools and incentives, as the motivation is already there. This could be as simple as encouraging their foreign family and friends in the UK and EU to consume more Jamaican and Caribbean goods and services, to doing joint venture export projects with Diaspora SMEs.
Currently our countries in the Caribbean are faced with economic challenges and therefore need to make a significant impact and quickly, to increase exports and job creation, as time and resources are not on our side, ended St.Bernard.
