Assisting economic development of small island nations

The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC)'s Export Market Development Department runs a programme aimed to attract investment, upgrade and market local products abroad, and increase tourism earnings. In 1992/1993, the Department's programmes for the Caribbean have benefited six countries. Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago requested investment promotion programmes. These assessed the strengths of each local economy, then identified potential investors in Japan (for Jamaica), and in Hong Kong and Taiwan (for Trinidad and Tobago). The parties were brought together with an agenda of investment and joint venture opportunities. In the same period, Belize received an export sector development adviser; Dominica sought an agricultural production and export marketing adviser, and Trinidad and Tobago a spices adviser. Grenada and Montserrat welcomed Commonwealth experts to work as trade services advisers. The Caricom Secretariat was provided with a trade services adviser to help strengthen trade policies in all countries of the region. The Department has undertaken similar programmes for small island countries in the Pacific, Africa and Europe. Cyprus and Malta each received advisers on the Production and marketing of furniture to help them strengthen their exports.