Trade promotion group Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), in partnership with German development agency GIZ, recently supported a number of CARIFORUM businesses at the Jamaica International Exhibition (JIE), assisting small firms in targeting new markets and building brand awareness throughout the region and beyond.

The JIE, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre last month, gave several small firms from across the region a chance to network, gain feedback on their products and increase their brand exposure.

Caribbean Export supported the participation of Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Cure Ltd, Benedicta SA from the Dominican Republic, Gom Foods from Suriname and Saint Lucia’s Winfresh Group.

“Participation in the JIE enabled us to gain meaningful feedback on our new product line and promote our existing teas with various key players,” said Caribbean Cure Ltd CEO Sophia Stone. “We are grateful to Caribbean Export and GIZ for supporting us in this initiative and helping us progress one step further in international market penetration.”

Caribbean Export encourages businesses from around the region to participate in expos and trade shows as a way to grow their exports.

The agency is hosting a trade exhibition in Germany in September as part of the CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, which takes place in Frankfurt. The event hopes to increase trade flows between the Caribbean region and European markets.

Over 60 CARIFORUM businesses are set to attend.