CEDA, Invest SVG host Grant Proposal Writing workshop

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), in collaboration with Invest SVG, held a one-day workshop on Monday, September 26, 2011 on Grant Proposal Writing.{{more}}

This initiative is within the context of Caribbean Export seeking to increase the technical capacity of SMEs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to prepare successful applications for donor funding.

The objectives of the workshop were: to promote and increase awareness of the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme and how SMEs can access funding to enhance their competitiveness through increasing exports of goods and services or potential to export goods and services; to explain and illustrate to firms how to prepare an application for grant funding; to guide Business Support Organisations (BSOs) in delivering on assistance to firms in preparing grant funding applications.

The EU funded Direct Assistance Grant Scheme provides assistance to companies to address the constraints they encounter as they enhance their capacity, develop new products or access regional and extra-regional markets. Registered CARIFORUM firms that have the potential to export their products/services or increase their exports may benefit from the Scheme. Priority will be given to companies involved in new sectors, such as Creative Industries, Health & Wellness, Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and Professional Services, as well as those undertaking projects or activities that are innovative (i.e. new products, Intellectual Property Rights, strategic alliances, etc).

Caribbean Export’s mission is to foster an enabling environment for trade and investment within the region, through regional integration, cooperation and advocacy initiatives. These are designed to position the region more effectively in the world economy.

There are two types of grants under the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme: Regular Procedures €5,000 – €30,000 and Accelerated Procedures €1,000 – €5,000, respectively. Applicants will be able to access funds from both facilities for projects that may include, but are not limited to, research, product and service development, marketing, promotional material, quality and environmental management systems, information technology solutions, etc.

Caribbean Export is expected to launch the New Grant Funding Scheme, funded under the 10th EDF, on October 12 in Barbados, with the first Call for Proposals published on October 21.

For further queries related to this grant facility, please visit Caribbean Export Development Agency’s (Caribbean Export) website at www.carib-export.com or contact Kirk Brown (kbrown@caribexport.com) Tel: 246) 436 0578. Or Invest SVG at info@invesvg.com or at Tel: (784-45-72159)