Two government agencies and CDB to launch capacity building project

Two government agencies – the Office of the National Authorizing Officer
(ONAO), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with the
Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA), and the Caribbean
Development Bank (CDB) are combining efforts to launch a capacity-building
project in Antigua and Barbuda.
The launch, slated for August 02, is the second project to be implemented in
Antigua and Barbuda funded by the European Union (EU), under the
CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA)/CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for
Capacity Building.
The project is entitled, “Strengthening Private Sector Capacity to utilize the
CARIFORUM- European Union Economic Partnership Agreement to increase
competitiveness and maximize opportunities for global export.” The launch will be
held at the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority Conference Room- Deep Water
Harbour.
The project is being implemented by the ONAO with support from national
beneficiary agencies and business support organizations, which is valued at EUR
189,307 in technical assistance to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
This intervention will focus on strengthening the private sector’s capacity to utilize
the CARIFORUM-EU EPA and attain greater market penetration within the
CSME, by building the sustainable export capacity of MSMEs through a digitally
enabled strategic framework.
Speakers at the launch will include, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade
and Barbuda Affairs, E. P. Chet Greene, Vice President of Operations – Caribbean
Development Bank, Isaac Solomon, and Project Manager–Delegation of the
European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and
CARICOM/CARIFORUM, Sheldon Jackman.