TRADE MISSION TO GUADELOUPE AND MARTINIQUE Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries TRADE MISSION TO GUADELOUPE AND MARTINIQUE July 15th – 22nd 2010 6th Meeting of the CARIFORUM/FCOR/OCT Task Force on Trade and Investment October 27th 2010 1

OUTLINE Mission Participants Mission Program Mission Objectives Mission Outcomes Challenges Follow up post mission TTCSI-FCORs Action Plan Contacts

Mission PARTICIPANTS 11 representatives 4 firms and 5 Associations: Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company (T&T Ent) Trinidad and Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association (TTITAO) Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects (TTIA) Nova Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce National Association of Technical Tertiary & Professional educators of Trinidad and Tobago (NATPETT) In Joy Tours (Tour Operator) Prudecon Limited (Engineering) Kenneth Dublin & Architects (Architecture) Illuminat (ICT) Yachting:

PROGRAM GUADELOUPE Meetings with governmental institutions and private sector organizations. Regional Directorate for International Trade (DRCE) – Direction Regionale pour le Commerce Exterieur Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs -(DRAC) Direction régionale des affaires culturelles Guadeloupe Expansion Directorate of Communication and International Affairs of the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Pointe-a-Pitre. 45 business-to-business meetings. Conference - Society of Economists of Guadeloupe (SEG): “Exporting and trading with the Caribbean” Touristic and cultural tours Cocktail reception

PROGRAM MARTINIQUE Meeting with meeting with governmental institutions and private sector organizations. Chambre de Commerce et D’Industrie de la Martinique Regional Council of Martinique CGPME Martinique 40 business-to-business meetings Touristic and cultural tours Cocktail reception

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MISSION achievements Introduction / promotion of services to potential business partners in the FCORs markets; Provided SMEs with an opportunity to exchange business experience with FCORs companies; Collaboration between local services providers within the cultural/creative industries sector; Analysis on opportunities to develop bundled services; Technology transfer and exchange of know-how Cultural awareness (Regional)

Outcomes – Projects in the Pipeline Exchanges of artists performances at various cultural festivals Hotel Schools exchanges Children Theatre exchanges Dance Group exchanges Exchanges of know-how for cultural events planning Sharing of training opportunities in entertainment sector Creation of language learning centres Familiarisation tours for travel agents and tour operators Partnerships for Haiti reconstruction efforts Lobbying efforts for pursuit of MRA negotiations Study and awareness campaign on use of US and Euro codes for construction sectors Hosting of incoming trade mission from Guadeloupe Business enquiries (FCORs companies and T&T Companies) Partnership proposal from Martiniquan Carnival group

CHALLENGES Collaboration with partners for B2B and/or logistics planning. Differences in the common understanding and definition of the term “creative industries”. Inability to facilitate 12 participants from SLCSI Lack of information on FCORs markets. Lack of information on standards requirements -As suggested by Caribbean Export, we contacted the Regional Council in both islands to inform them of the upcoming mission and requested their assistance. The scenario was slightly different in both islands but resulted with the same difficulties for the TTCSI to plan the project at the suggested date and in the format in which we wanted. For exemple in Guadeloupe the Chamber of Commerce advised that we should firstly contact the Regional Council to inform them of the mission and request their assistance for facilitating the mission. The Regional Council directed to us to Guadeloupe Expansion, Guadeloupe Expansion sent us to Chambre D’arts et des Metiers, Chambre d’Arts et des Metiers directed us to Direction Regionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC). Fortunately, we were able to draw on our own linkages in both islands to ensure planning as regard to the logistics of the mission and the planning of the B2B.

follow-up De-briefing meeting held 12 days after mission return Reporting and interaction with the Ministry of Trade and Industry Follow up questionnaire to be sent by the end of November to all participants Follow-up mission to Martinique and Guadeloupe (May 2011) Support to participants for implementation of projects emanating from trade mission

TTCSI - FCORs action plan Collaborate/network closely with Business Support Organizations & Government Institutions (Eg. MEPO based at TTCSI) Provide advice and strategies for local companies seeking to enter FCORs markets Build awareness of opportunities in FCORs markets Facilitate partnerships between local companies and companies on FCORs markets Compile a database of services providers and identify those who have exported/are exporting in FCORs markets Compile a database of trade barriers (FCORs/T&T) MEPO = Martinique Export Promotion Officer

Contact Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries 45 Cornelio Street Woodbrook Port of Spain Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Tel:(868) 622-9229 Ext26 Fax:(868) 622-9229 Ext37 Website: www.ttcsi.org Contact: info@ttcsi.org ntewarie@ttcsi.org flouis@ttcsi.org