KUDOS TO EEB/CBA FOR SUPPORTING COMMERCIAL

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000625

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR AND EEB/CBA - DENNIS WINSTEAD
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD OECS EINV ECON XL
SUBJECT: KUDOS TO EEB/CBA FOR SUPPORTING COMMERCIAL
OUTREACH IN BRIDGETOWN

1) (u) Embassy Bridgetown would like to recognize EEB/CBA's
Dennis Winstead for his assistance in significantly expanding
our business support footprint in the Eastern Caribbean. In
particular, provision of BFIF funding has been instrumental
in allowing us to expand our commercial outreach efforts,
particularly outside of Barbados. BFIF funding has
contributed directly or indirectly to a number of success
stories.


2. (u) We have seen a significant increase in interest in
attendance at trade shows on the part of Eastern Caribbean
businesses, and in particular from previously under-served
business communities in Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts, St.
Lucia, and St. Vincent. For the recent FAS-sponsored food and
beverage show held in Miami, our commercial assistant
recruited 50 participants from almost all of our countries,
more than double the usual number - a significant improvement
over past years, where 20 attendees was considered a success
and virtually the entire delegation was Barbadian. That show
also led to increased interest from delegation members in the
upcoming National Restaurant Show, which we will be
supporting for the first time.


3. (u) Our ability to recruit more broadly was a direct
result of the additional travel we were able to undertake to
build contacts outside of Barbados. Thanks in part to travel
funding provided through BFIF, this expansion of our contact
networks with local and U.S. businesses enabled us to
identify three nominees for the Award for Corporate
Excellence last year, and we expect to put forward a similar
number in the upcoming year - more than ever before. BFIF
support and the outreach it has enabled has also led to the
establishment of two American Chambers of Commerce (in
Barbados and in St. Lucia) and a lead on another (St. Kitts).
Continued BFIF funding will help us continue to support these
newborn organizations to help them get on their feet.


4. (u) BFIF funding also helped us put together a
first-of-its-kind trade and investment seminar for local
businesses in Barbados and St. Lucia (results reported
septel). These seminars included participation from FAS,
OPIC, and DOC/ITA, along with inputs from EXIM, SBA, TDA,
DOE, FCS, and the consular section among others, and were
well received. In the case of OPIC, it helped them develop
new leads, including in St. Lucia, a previously undeserved
country, including a commitment by Prime Minister King to
visit OPIC headquarters to discuss new projects. We hope to
repeat these seminars in these two countries and also have
them during this FY in the other countries we cover: Antigua,
St. Vincent, St. Kitts, Dominica and Grenada.


5. (u) These are just the biggest, most concrete examples of
where Mr. Winstead and EEB/CBA have helped us expand and
improve our outreach. We have ambitious plans for the coming
year, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with
EEB/CBA to open our previously underserved countries to
additional trade and investment opportunities with U.S.
partners.
OURISMAN