7th Rediscover the Caribbean a major success

The seventh edition of ‘Rediscover the Caribbean’ is being hailed a major success, with the Vincentian contingent coming in for high praises for its impressive showing to the Barbadian public.{{more}}

For some like Cassandra Williams, Vonley Greaves and Leroy Pipe, it was the first time making the journey in search of prospective markets.

“I went looking for a market, I came back with the whole of Barbados,” Greaves, of ‘Island Wear’ told members of the media Monday, May 3 at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room.

Williams said that she was overwhelmed by the positive response she received from the Barbadian public.

“My business is knitting and this is something relatively new to the Bajan market,” Williams, local designer said.

She said that she was able to discuss promotion and marketing strategies and was looking forward to putting good use to the knowledge gained from the experience.

Pipe, representing ‘Everdale Farms’ said that the company he represented was looking to venture out into the export market and gave an account of how the exposure and business tips acquired during the two-day event has assisted him.

The Vincentian delegation included representatives of the Hotel and Tourism Association, The Tourism Authority, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Invest SVG.

According to Cleo Huggins, Executive Director of Invest SVG, the first mission to the show was back in 2008.

Invest SVG has been credited with leading successful delegations to the highly profiled show.

And although the show is tourism based, officials from Invest SVG are basking on the past successes.

According to Huggins, in 2010 a diverse team was taken including persons from various sectors including design, agro-processing and the beverage sectors.

“And we are pleased to say that indeed some of those people who journeyed to Barbados were successful,” Huggins said.

Despite the recent success, and of those of the past, Huggins noted that there was a notion that Invest SVG was only committing itself to foreign investors.

However she quickly put this myth to rest saying that the company she headed was mandated to assist both local and foreign investors alike.(DD)