Enhancing Trade and Investment: TEECA Programme hosts Business Retreat in Martinique

The TEECA programme is a joint initiative between the Martinique Chamber of Commerce (CCIM), the OECS Commission and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) being funded by the Interreg Caraïbes European Regional Development Fund. It aims to enhance trade and investment opportunities between Martinique and the rest of the OECS and is expected to benefit participating SMEs from Dominica Grenada, Saint. Kitts and Nevis, Martinique, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in five main sub-sectors, namely; manufacturing: agro-processing, Information and Communication Technology, music, fashion, and green industries. 

The three (3) day exercise, which officially launched activities for the two (2) year TEECA programme, served as a team building exercise for the 30 SMEs selected for support under the programme. The Business Retreat also covered a range of topics aimed at deepening interest and understanding on the broad range of trade and development issues, as well as to create opportunities for participating firms to gain a better appreciation of the scope of the programme.

The sessions covered, inter alia:

• understanding Export Challenges in the goods and services sectors;
•  intercultural understanding between the OECS and Martinique; and
•  sharing values and deepening understanding of team work. 

The group also managed to undertake special activities for team building including; a traditional sail boat excursion, the Gommier, as well as a practical culinary session featuring traditional Martinique cuisine.  

About TEECA:

The TEECA programme aims to serve as a major pillar in the efforts to increase exports of OECS firms to regional and international markets. The programme will develop a framework for providing better market intelligence on products and services, develop export strategies and plans for the 30 participating companies, improve knowledge of funding for SME development in the region, provide technical support to create innovative products and services, provide support for linguistic immersion, create synergies between and among the firms in the five sub-sectors and support efforts at market penetration and trade of goods and services of the participating companies. The programme will also feature a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge which will provide an opportunity for Tertiary Level Students from Martinique and the OECS to engage in cultural exchanges through an entrepreneurship and business competency competition.

>	This story aligns with OECS Strategic Objective No.5: Drive Key Economic Priorities.