OECS Export OECS Export Development UnitDevelopment Unit

Support Program for Business Support Program for Business Support Organizations of the Support Organizations of the

OECSOECS

BackgroundBackground

OECS-EDU is an institution of the OECS OECS-EDU is an institution of the OECS Secretariat, serving the 9 Member StatesSecretariat, serving the 9 Member States

OECS-EDU is mandated to increase OECS-EDU is mandated to increase exports from the region exports from the region

Achieved by enhancing the Achieved by enhancing the competitiveness of OECS products and competitiveness of OECS products and services in domestic, regional and services in domestic, regional and international markets.international markets.

Background - General Program of Background - General Program of Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

• Management Enhancement - management Management Enhancement - management training and systems training and systems

• Product Development – quality Product Development – quality assurance/certification, product technology and assurance/certification, product technology and plant modernizationplant modernization

• Marketing – marketing plan formulation, market Marketing – marketing plan formulation, market intelligence, market visits, and market access intelligence, market visits, and market access facilitationfacilitation

BSO Development BSO Development RationaleRationale

Strategic Partner to assist in Strategic Partner to assist in export expansion objectiveexport expansion objective

StrategyStrategy

Promoting Sustainability of BSOs via Promoting Sustainability of BSOs via income-generating and training projectsincome-generating and training projects

Collaboration for demand-driven TACollaboration for demand-driven TA

Membership Mobilization thru high visibilityMembership Mobilization thru high visibility

Teaching how to fishTeaching how to fish

Work Program for Business Work Program for Business Support Organizations (BSOs)Support Organizations (BSOs)

Enhancing Strategic CapabilitiesEnhancing Strategic Capabilities Development of Promotional Programs Development of Promotional Programs Development of information dissemination through IT-Development of information dissemination through IT-

enhanced capacities for internet-based conferencingenhanced capacities for internet-based conferencing Training of BSO personnel in strategic plan formulation Training of BSO personnel in strategic plan formulation

and management skillsand management skills Membership trainingMembership training

Work Program for Business Work Program for Business Support Organizations (BSOs)Support Organizations (BSOs)

Direct SupportDirect SupportParticipation in national, regional and Participation in national, regional and international meetings and training opportunities, international meetings and training opportunities, and membership mobilization activities.and membership mobilization activities.

Delivery of training programs to BSO Delivery of training programs to BSO membership in areas identified as a result of membership in areas identified as a result of cluster programs. cluster programs.

Highlights of Interventions/SupportHighlights of Interventions/Support

Twelve (12) BSOs targeted under PE2 (OECS Twelve (12) BSOs targeted under PE2 (OECS Chambers of Commerce, Coalitions of Services, Chambers of Commerce, Coalitions of Services, Manufacturers Associations, Cultural Industries ECCO, Manufacturers Associations, Cultural Industries ECCO, GIDCGIDC

Launching of the Dominica Coalition of Service Launching of the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI)Industries (DCSI)

Training in work plan development for the St. Kitts, St. Training in work plan development for the St. Kitts, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Dominica CSIs and Trade in Vincent, St. Lucia and Dominica CSIs and Trade in Services Workshop in SVG.Services Workshop in SVG.

Training in services exporting for the Dominica and St. Training in services exporting for the Dominica and St. Kitts CSIs (which spawned a PR program)Kitts CSIs (which spawned a PR program)

Technical Assistance provided to the St. Lucia CSI to develop strategic plans for four (4) associations (ICT, Trainers & Facilitators, Health, Beauty & Spa, and Creative Industries);

SLMA training in Information System Management.

St. Lucia Manufacturing Assc. Support for Homecoming Exhibition & for Supervisory Development Workshop.

Caribbean Export-supported Training in Proposal Writing delivered in St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica, & Grenada

Technical Assistance Program for Technical Assistance Program for Emerging BSOsEmerging BSOs

Sensitization campaigns and membership Sensitization campaigns and membership mobilization activitiesmobilization activities

Training workshops - e.g. ask-the-experts Training workshops - e.g. ask-the-experts symposiums, which can also be used as a symposiums, which can also be used as a means of fund-raising and proposal writing means of fund-raising and proposal writing which can contribute to sustainabilitywhich can contribute to sustainability

Technical Assistance Program for Technical Assistance Program for Established BSOsEstablished BSOs

Association development – formation of Association development – formation of operational structures (bye-laws, codes of operational structures (bye-laws, codes of ethics), work plans, and strategic plansethics), work plans, and strategic plans

Management training Management training

Information dissemination e.g. website Information dissemination e.g. website developmentdevelopment

Participation in national, regional, and Participation in national, regional, and international meetings and training international meetings and training opportunitiesopportunities

Experts for short-term projectsExperts for short-term projects

ConclusionConclusionIn order for this program of support to In order for this program of support to

produce real benefits two options are produce real benefits two options are

available:available:

Option 1 - Paid Staff*Option 1 - Paid Staff*

Option 2 - Very committed board of Option 2 - Very committed board of

management management

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?info@ecs.orginfo@ecs.org

THANKS!THANKS!