The first two phases of Break Point is now complete, and thirty (30) CARIFORUM firms have been selected to participate in coaching before entering the first round of pitches scheduled for June 2012.

The firms chosen represent Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. Of those selected, the firms specialize in Agro-processing, Light Manufacturing, Fashion/Garments and the Creative Industries, Professional Services and Specialised Tourism.

The next step is participation in a one-day coaching programme at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Cave Hill School of Business (CHSB). Which will be followed by two virtual coaching sessions. This programme will focus on the strengthening of presentation skills and tips on making business pitches. Participants will also get to hear about the opportunities available for CARIFORUM firms under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Break Point is a Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) business competition for the CARIFORUM private sector, to encourage them to take advantage of the EPA. The competition is open to CARIFORUM majority owned or joint venture firms that intend to use the EPA as a tool to immediately target (i.e. within 6 months) the UK and EU markets for exports. Priority areas include: Agro-processing, Alternative Energy, Creative Industries, Fashion/Garments, Light Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Specialised Tourism.

Break Point is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union’s 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP).