The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) through funding from the European Union’s 10th European Development Fund (EDF) under the Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP) released to five Guyanese firms the sum of €119,000 this year.
According to a Caribbean Export press release, Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited, Eco Woods, Edward B Beharry & Company Limited, Parika Sawmills Limited and Superior Shingles & Wood Product Incorporated were the companies to benefit from the recent allotment of €119,000 under the Direct Assistance Grants Scheme (DAGS). Since 2011, during the 10th EDF, the release said, the agency issued two calls for proposals and a total of 341 applications were received from the region. This year’s grant funding, brings the sum released to Guyanese firms under DAGS to date to €296,000.
The aim of the funding is to open new markets through partnering nations such as those under the Caricom Single Market and Economy, Caricom Free Trade Agreement, African, Caribbean and Pacific states or European Union (EU) or other any other bilateral or multilateral arrangements signed in the region.
Ultimately, the release said, DAGS is intended to foster intra-regional cooperation to enhance productivity and capitalise on economies of scale, and promote programmes which will impact on underdeveloped areas or disadvantaged sectors within the region.
To date, Caribbean Export through the 9th and 10th EDF has awarded a total of €8,372,277.82 to 475 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and business support organisations (BSOs) across the Caribbean.
