Food and Drink Conference attracts Saint Lucia’s trade arm

Caribbean news. It is widely known the Caribbean does not rank highly on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business measurement scale. With no Caribbean representatives in the first 50 and Jamaica at 59, Trinidad and Tobago at 79 and Saint Lucia barely making the 100^th mark, this is hardly encouraging data about the Caribbean’s ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), compete on the global market and sustain their economies through non-tourism related enterprises.

The susceptibility of the region to fluctuations in global energy and commodity prices makes the region particularly vulnerable to a plethora of negative circumstances thereby threatening national, food and water security. Naturally, countries unable to sustain themselves economically will inevitably succumb to the unforgiving and undeniable effects of climate change, more so small island nation states.

The Caribbean Food and Drink Conference billed for Friday 10th July 2015 at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum is intended, therefore to provide Caribbean countries an opportunity to immunize themselves from such commodity price fluctuations and exposure to elements that increase their carbon footprint by exploring trade and investment opportunities among the Diaspora and other ethnic groups in the United Kingdom.

Dr P Quantock

Organised by CaribDirect Multi-Media and Fairweather Productions in collaboration with the Black Cultural Archives, the objectives of the CFDE Conference are as follows:

1. To help participating Caribbean countries explore and facilitate trade and investment opportunities both locally and in the United Kingdom within the food and drink sector;
2. To explore and establish new trade and business development linkages between participating Caribbean countries, export development agencies, distributors and buyers and sellers within the food and drink sector in the UK and EU marketplace;
3. To provide a credible platform for policy makers and decision makers within the food and drink industry to discuss and debate best practice, challenges and possible solutions, on an annual basis via a one day conference.

The ethos of this event is basically to deliver a quality conference and expo on an annual basis to an expectant national Caribbean and British audience with an appreciation of Caribbean cuisine and indigenous drinks, through strategic partnerships.

Topics and Speakers –

• Welcoming remarks – H.E. High Commissioner Mr Cenio Lewis
  
• Climate change – agriculture, food,  recycling and waste management – Mrs Elizabeth Mullings-Smith
• Diabetes the facts: Implications for the Caribbean Community – Grace Vanterpool MBE
• The socio-economic value of Rum to the Caribbean – Ian Burrell (Global Rum Ambassador)
  
• Insights of the future of Caribbean Cuisine – Michelin Chef Jason Howard
• Understanding the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) – Dr Paul Quantock
• Inspirational business story – Joan Blaney CBE
  

There will also be food sampling, drinks displays and one 2 one sessions between manufacturers and buyers / distributors including TESCO, Dees Caribbean Imports and more…Manufactures interested in sitting with buyers for 5 minutes are invited to contact the organisers ASAP as places are limited. Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) will be participating in the CFDE Conference and Expo, on Sunday 2015. For tickets (£20.00) click link below: