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