Caribbean export urges private sector to take advantage of available funds
From Belize Invest
Bridgetown, BARBADOS, February 28, 2014. Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) urges the regions private sector to take advantage of the funds made available under the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme facilitated by the Agency as part of of the Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).
Firms can apply for grants of up to €30,000 providing firms meet the eligibility criteria, their applications are accepted and they are exporting or demonstrate the potential to export goods and services.
Throughout 2012 and 2013 the Agency has conducted grant proposal workshops across CARIFORUM to prepare BSOs and firms ahead of this current Call for Proposals that was announced on January 17, 2014. In the previous Call for Proposals in 2012 the Agency received two hundred and thirty-nine (239) applications that attained or exceeded the eligibility threshold.It is hoped that in this penultimate year of the 10th EDF the Agency receives a record number of applicants to maximise the utilisation of the funds made available and increase the number of businesses that are awarded.
“The Direct Assistance Grant Scheme, is one of most impactful initiatives that we undertake; some would argue that it is the most impactful because it injects finance into the benefitting firms. We believe that this Call for Proposals is an opportunity that should be exploited by any regional business that is looking to take that next step. Finance is crucial to the development of any company, large or small, and to have a programme like this should not be overlooked, especially in this challenging economic climate” said Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export.
The Direct Assistance Grant Scheme is a reimbursement grant funding facility specifically designed to provide financial assistance to legally registered firms, individuals and Business Support Organisations who have the potential to export their products and services.
The deadline for this Call for Proposals is March 7, 2014 and more information about the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme can be found at www.carib-export.com. Contact: Kirk Brown, Senior Grant Advisor ([email protected]) or Celestine Moe, Grant Advisor ([email protected]), Caribbean Export Development Agency, Tel: +1(246) 436-0578, Fax: +1(246) 436-9999
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