Trade & Economic Development

Trade and Economic Development

The ICS goal for trade and economic development is to increase the participation of Caribbean-Americans in the U.S. business sector, to promote increased trade and investment between the US and the Caribbean, and to support entrepreneurial development and micro-enterprise development in the Caribbean. Our work includes creating linkages between US-based small and disadvantaged businesses and Caribbean businesses, entrepreneurial development and skills training for women and youth with particular focus on at-risk youth and acting as an interlocutor and facilitator for creating partnerships between U.S. transnational corporations and the Caribbean-American community.

Our agenda for trade and develeopment includes:

Annual Invest Caribbean Conference - a yearly gathering of business leaders interested in the Caribbean to promote dialogue around business opportunities and emerging trends in the Caribbean.
LifeSEED Initiative Micro-Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development Support
Visioneur Business Plan Training Bootcamps
Working Group on the Caribbean Community Development Fund
Financial Literacy & Economic Empowement Initiative
Doing Business in the Caribbean Training & Development Seminars
Small Business Development Advocacy

Special Mention

FINANCIAL LITERACY & EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

ICS will partner with organizations to promote financial dignity through financial literacy, education and empowerment tools to our communities in cities across the US and in the Caribbean.

Through such partnerships, ICS will assist with providing our community with financial literacy, and economic education and empowerment to individuals, families, and small business owners.

THE CARIBBEAN PAVILION at the ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS (CBC) LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

Between 1994 and 1996, ICS participated as an exhibitor in the Exhibit Hall at the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Annual Legislative Conference, and once again it was a success. The booth named The Caribbean... A Wave of Opportunity attracted significant attention. Information on business opportunities and investments and tourism was made available. Books from the Caribbean were displayed as well as cookbooks, which were first to be sold out. Products such as jams, chutney, biscuits, coffee and pepper sauces were on sale, the favorite was the pepper sauces, especially the jerk seasoning. A survey was conducted on the awareness of Caribbean products. Most people were familiar with the jerk sauces and rums.

There were daily raffles with prizes such as subscriptions to Panache magazine, gift baskets, artwork and t-shirts, and trips to the Caribbean: Mango Bay, Barbados; Braco Village, Jamaica: Young Island, St. Vincent; and Invercauld, Jamaica. By the end of the event over 500 people stopped by the ICS booth.

We believe that the CBC Annual Legislative Conference provided an excellent arena to promote the Caribbean and to reach a huge potential market for Caribbean goods and services.

Special Mention