The Tribune

By DENISE MAYOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE second edition of the Caribbean Export Outlook yearly publication was launched in Grand Bahama on Thursday, and features an address from Prime Minister Perry Christie.

The publication, which is released yearly by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), is the only trade and business investment publication that focuses on export development in the Caribbean region.

The launch was held at the Grand Lucayan Resort.

A year ago, CEDA launched the inaugural edition of Caribbean Export Outlook. The first edition had a distribution of over 22,000 and highlighted key markets for exporters, including select countries in West Africa, Germany, and Brazil.

“The optimal reason for this (publication) was to respond to the needs of the private sector with respect to where the trends are in export development; providing information on trade and export; and realising that there is a dearth of information out there on this, we thought this publication would be one way to address that issue in addition to other interventions we have at the agency level,” said executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.

This second edition focuses on Cuba and China, and it is anticipated that the circulation will be much wider. In addition to English, the publication has been translated in Spanish, French and Dutch.

The publication, according to Ms Coke-Hamilton, focuses on key sectors that have strong growth potential and where it is believed the Caribbean can compete.

There is a feature on high-end cocoa produced in the region, the potential of the medical tourism sector, prospects for renewable energy and the financial services, and the increasing expanding creative industries.

According to Ms Coke-Hamilton, due to the great importance of the creative sector, publishers decided to highlight the experiences of two top Caribbean performers and musical icons, Michel Montano and Shaggy.

“We are also honoured to feature for the first time the perspective of the Bahamas’ prime minister on regional trade; we are pleased that he consented to share this views on the matter. His contribution shed an enlightening perspective on the challengers that our exporters continue to face, and which must be address if we are to achieve regional growth,” she said.

JoEllen Laryea, marketing and public relations advisors at CEDA, said the publication also will be distributed in Freeport and Nassau, and other parts of the region.

The Minister for Grand Bahama also attended the launch.