Agri-Investment Forum & Expo in Guyana attracts investment for Caribbean coconut sector

The International Trade Centre (ITC) and its partners participated in the Caribbean Agri-Investment Forum & Expo in Guyana to showcase sustainable, value-added coconut products of selected brands from across Caribbean states.

Under ITC’s European Union- and CARIFORUM-funded Coconuts II project, 11 innovative and green-growth focused enterprises were hand-picked from across the Caribbean to participate in this event to attract investors and match bankable business proposals with concrete investments.

The three-day regional event unlocked investment opportunities for the Caribbean’s coconut sector, and its small and medium processing enterprises. The overall goal is to boost local production and value addition, while reducing imports at the same time.

Under the “25 by 2025” vision for reducing CARICOM’s agri-food imports and stimulating production and trade in the Caribbean, the goal is to reduce the food import bill by 25% by 2025. Increasing production and national expenditure while taking advantage of existing economic opportunities within the CARICOM Region are some of the measures the region is taking.

To unlock investment in the region’s coconut value-added industry, ITC’s sustainable agribusiness initiative, Alliances for Action, supported the small processing enterprises on securing potential investment and market connections at the event: through pitching, product display and B2B meetings.

Stands displayed clean, high-quality products branded with rich Caribbean culture. Their green-focused marketing is backed by sustainable and transparent practices promoted and developed through the project.

As the event showed, Caribbean coconut entrepreneurs are stepping up their game, both on product quality and sustainability, and market development.