Vincentians to benefit from international export preparedness two-day workshop

The local private and public sectors will have the opportunity to take advantage of a two-day workshop next month that will focus on international export preparedness.{{more}}

The Internationalization of SMEs: Marketing and eBusiness Workshop is organised by the Caribbean Centre for Competitiveness (CCfC) of the University of the West Indies, in collaboration with the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc (CED) and is scheduled for September 19 and 20, 2013, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Room.

The objective of the workshop is to enable participants to understand how international trade works and what is needed to sustain export competitiveness. It details the necessary steps in the process of getting a business, particularly small and medium size enterprises, to become export competitive, and will focus on three main areas: Export Essentials, International Communications/Marketing Skills, and eBusiness.

It will be delivered by the UK Institute of Export.

Executive director of CCFC Indera Sagewan-Alli says the workshop targets participants from SMEs who are already exporting and/or positioning themselves in the international market, private sector officials, business sector organizations, senior and mid-level policy makers, enabling public-sector officials, academics and researchers.

“Given the reality of declining traditional markets for regional products and the urgency for firms to find new markets, particularly extra-regional markets, it is important for all stakeholders to have the know-how to manipulate the bag of tools such a workshop provides,” she outlines. “The CCfC is committed to supporting private sector development in the region through cutting edge training such as this. The IOE is an International Expert Agency in export market preparedness and will provide ‘best-practices’ which, if implemented, can enhance the performance of SVG’s private sector. The CCfC, in collaboration with the CED, is underwriting most of the real cost of this training, so SMEs and other stakeholders should take advantage of this opportunity to participate and learn new export strategies.

Registration is now open and can be done at CED’s Office. Interested persons can call 451-2235 or email cedsvg@gmail.com/kphillips@cedsvg.com. The registration fee of US$50 and the completed registration form must be returned to CED by Friday, September 6.