BELTRAIDE and OAS launch Global Value Chain Workshop

On Monday, October 23rd, 2017, The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) and The Organization of American States (OAS) launched The Global Value Chain Workshop.

This four-day workshop is designed to support the initiative, “Small Business Development Center Model” led by OAS. It aims to provide participants with insights into how to develop effective policies to increase Caribbean countries’ competitiveness in these chains at the local, regional and global levels. The workshop incorporates tools to assess different opportunities for Caribbean firms and clusters by providing a framework through which these chains can be analyzed. Using a combination of international trade data and industry-level information, participants will learn how to “map global value chains”, that is, identify the main segments of these value chains and the most powerful and influential firms in each industry, and how these different segments are geographically dispersed around the world. In addition, by examining the role that leading firms and countries play, participants will learn the key requirements for competitiveness at both the firm and country levels as well as potential opportunities and constraints to innovate and upgrade into higher value segments of value chains. After completing the course, participants can use these tools to articulate policies and actions that can be implemented to drive and support investments in specific industries and to support local firms to interact gainfully in today’s global economy.

Tentative Workshop Outline

Introduction to Global Value Chains
Mapping GVCs I: Value Chain Activities & Geographic Scope
Mapping GVCs II: Industrial Organization and Participating Firms
Identifying Growth Opportunities: Upgrading & Workforce Development
Local Role in Global Chains: Institutional Context & Stakeholder Analysis
Policy Formulation for Improved Participation in GVCs

Anticipated Learning Outcomes:

Participants will be given tools to analyze the dynamic nature of world trade and the evolution of exports over the past decade.
Participants will learn about key GVC concepts and the utility of the framework and will develop an understanding of how to map value chains and identify lead firms, key markets and trends occurring in specific industries.
Participants will be able to evaluate where local firms are positioned in these value chains and will learn the “upgrading concept” that refers to adding value to current industries.
Participants will analyze their local institutional context and assess key constraints to competitiveness for firms in their country.
Participants will identify key stakeholders and policy areas that may require changes to promote industry competitiveness.
Participants will learn how other countries and development agencies are using these tools to enhance firm participation in GVCs.

Guest speakers for the opening ceremony included CEO of the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce, Mrs. Amparo Masson; as well as Assistant Secretary General of OAS, Mr. Nestor Mendez.

For more information on the Global Value Chain Workshop, kindly contact EXPORTBelize, a unit of BELTRAIDE by calling 822-3737 or email exportbelize@belizeinvest.org.bz.