Caribbean Export calls on SMEs in the Caribbean Region to access Grant Funding

As the regional trade and investment promotion agency, the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) continues to offer capacity building resources to private businesses in the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago.

?In its latest collaboration with Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the European Union, Caribbean Export has made an open call to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of regional member states to submit applications under its Technical Assistance Programme (TAP). The Agency recognizes the need for funding with favourable terms and conditions required by SMEs across the Caribbean region, particularly as they retool towards their recovery from the challenges experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.?

?Businesses within the region can receive a Grant of up to US$15,000 to be used in eligible areas of: Resource Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Digitalization of Business, Marketing and Promotions, Building Resilience, Purchase and Upgrade of Capital Goods, Certification, Capacity Building and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.

?To qualify for the grant, an applicant must be a firm that meets the following criteria:

• A sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company;
• Legally registered and operating in one of the following CDB/Caribbean Export Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname;
• Operating/trading for at least two (2) years, supported by the last two (2) years' financial statements (must include income statements and balance sheet) and the previous year's bank statement(s) (2020-2021). These financial statements can be audited or unaudited. All unaudited statements must be prepared and presented according to international financial reporting standard; and
• ?Has not received a grant from Caribbean Export in the past 3 years.

?The total costs and budget of the proposed project must not exceed the maximum amount of the grant (US$15,000). Applications will be evaluated by members of a committee comprising independent evaluators and be assessed in terms of financial capacity, relevance, effectiveness and feasibility, sustainability and budget and cost-effectiveness of the project.

?Caribbean Export through its Technical Assistance Programme is committed to providing the necessary resources to facilitate business continuity and increase exports within the Caribbean and/or international markets. For the period 2018 to 2020, Grants have been awarded to 171 firms of which over twenty (20) are domestic beneficiaries. The Ministry of Trade and Industry urges local SMEs to tap into grant opportunities being offered by the CEDA to grow and develop their businesses.

?The deadline for this Call for Proposals is July 9, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. (Barbados Time). Application forms can be retrieved via www.carib-export.com/tapgrants .

Interested entities can contact Caribbean Export via e-mail at [email protected]. Further information on the Programme, including the eligibility criteria and application process, can be obtained by visiting www.carib-export.com/tapgrants.