The British High Commission here says it hopes Guyana will make full use of the opportunities available under the £10 million Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund).
The United Kingdom established CARTFund with funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). It is being managed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and overseen by a steering committee comprising representatives from DFID, Caricom and Cariforum. CARTFund supports the implementation of the CSME and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Cariforum and the EU, with the aim of increasing trade within the region and with Europe, and ultimately providing more jobs and increased incomes for Caribbean people.
In a statement to the press following a press briefing last Wednesday, the High Commission disclosed that to date, 30 CARTFund projects totalling US$13.5 million have been approved, out of 119 proposals received.
They include 8 regional projects and 22 national projects in 14 countries, including Guyana. The CARTFund portfolio is diverse, including support to simplify trade procedures, increase access to EU and regional markets, manage the EPA implementation process and improve competition policy, as well as sectoral work on tourism, specialty foods and accounting, the statement said. “All these will make it easier to trade in the region and help businesses improve their ability to sell their goods and services to Europe and beyond,” it emphasized.
According to the statement, the investment is already yielding results, although many projects are still in their early stages. It cited the Caribbean Export Specialty Foods project under which one producer has secured distribution of its products in a 300-store national chain in the US. “The CARTFund Programme itself was even identified by Caricom earlier this year as an example of best practice in delivering aid for trade to the region at the WTO Global Review. Grant recipients such as Caribbean Export have also valued the support available through CARTFund and the work of the CDB,” the statement said.
At the press briefing which highlighted the work of the CARTFund, the UK’s Minister of State for International Development, Alan Duncan, stated that “the Caribbean must increase exports by taking advantage of its enhanced access to European markets. More exports means improved growth, investment and job creation. So I am delighted that we have been able to support the Caribbean through CARTFund to fully exploit these export opportunities.”
“The objectives of the CARTFund to boost growth, reduce poverty and increase member countries’ participation in the CSME are directly aligned with the bank’s commitment to supporting regional cooperation and regional integration. We are extremely pleased with the operations of the CARTFund to date and this is testament to the successful partnership between the UK, and Caricom.
The bank remains fully committed to working with its partners to ensure that our member countries realise the full benefits that the potential for expansion in trade intra-regionally, with Europe and the rest of the world offers,” said CDB President, Dr Warren Smith, according to the release.
DFID also recorded its appreciation to the CDB and Caricom for their excellent collaboration on the CARTFund programme.
The High Commission expressed optimism about the future of the fund and the success of the projects financed. The UK’s £10 million contribution forms part of the UK’s wider Caribbean development programme focusing on wealth creation, governance and security and climate change. In February 2011, Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, announced the allocation of £75 million for the Caribbean (2011-15), as part of the review of UK aid, the statement recalled.
