What Caribbean Export Development Agency does

The Caribbean Export Development Agency is a Barbados-headquartered regional trade and investment promotion organization founded in 1995, serving the 15+ CARIFORUM member states of the Caribbean. The agency delivers export development support, grant funding, technical assistance, training programs, and market intelligence to Caribbean micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Business Support Organizations (BSOs), and underserved segments including youth and women entrepreneurs. Its core digital platform is the CE Intelligence Portal, a web-based market intelligence and export-readiness tool, complemented by sub-branded programs such as the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS), ProNET (with GIZ), Services Go Global, Business of Music, Fashion Accelerator Programme, Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF), and Women Empowered through Export (WE-XPORT).

The organization operates as a donor-funded regional development agency rather than a commercial business, with funding flowing from the European Union, Caribbean Development Bank, Green Climate Fund (GCF), Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, GIZ, Expertise France, ITC, Global Affairs Canada, and UNESCO. Caribbean Export manages more than USD $68 million across active programs including the Caribbean Digital Transformation Institute ($680,000) and EU-LAC Digital Accelerator ($825,000). It distributes services through a regional headquarters in St. Michael, Barbados (Baobab Tower, Warrens), a sub-regional office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and a network of Country Advisors in 15+ Caribbean nations working alongside national BSOs such as BELTRAIDE, BIDC, and SBDCs.

In 2025 the agency achieved Green Climate Fund accreditation, celebrated 30 Years of Impact, released its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, and hosted the Caribbean Investment Forum surfacing over USD 78 million in investment-ready projects. It has expanded its partnership footprint through MOUs with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), CAF Bank, Republic Financial Holdings, DHL, Business France, and counterpart trade bodies in Ghana and Nigeria, formalizing Africa-Caribbean South-South trade corridors alongside its core CARIFORUM mandate.

Name

Caribbean Export Development Agency

Legal name

Caribbean Export Development Agency

Website

https://carib-export.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Caribbean Export Development Agency is a Barbados-based, donor-funded regional trade and investment promotion organization serving MSMEs across 15+ CARIFORUM Caribbean states with grants, technical assistance, training, and market intelligence through the CE Intelligence Portal and partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade and Investment Promotion Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF), Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Trade Finance Institutions (BPADACAF), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

Keywords

• Export development services
• Trade promotion agency
• Investment facilitation
• Market intelligence platform
• Capacity building programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrens

HQ country

Barbados

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donor-funded grants and technical assistance: Caribbean Export operates as a regional trade and investment promotion agency funded primarily through donor partnerships with the European Union, Caribbean Development Bank, and other international development organizations. The agency provides grant funding, technical assistance, and capacity building programs to Caribbean businesses rather than generating commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caribbean Export Development Agency is the regional trade and investment promotion agency for the Caribbean, providing export development support, grant funding, technical assistance, training programs, market intelligence, and capacity building for Caribbean MSMEs and exporters. The agency delivers programs such as the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS), BRIDGE funding facility, WE-XPORT for women exporters, ProNET training, Services Go Global, Business of Music, and the Caribbean Investment Forum, operating across 15+ CARIFORUM states with headquarters in Barbados and a sub-regional office in the Dominican Republic.

Product overview

Caribbean Export Development Agency offers a portfolio of trade and investment promotion services organized around a central intelligence platform and complementary support programs. The CE Intelligence Portal serves as the primary digital platform providing market intelligence, while the Exporters Toolkit delivers resource-based guidance. Technical Assistance Programs (GRIT, Caribbean Virtual E-Commerce Accelerator, WE-XPORT), Grant Funding Programs (BRIDGE, DAGS, Direct Support Grants), and Training Programs (ProNET, Business of Music, Services Go Global, Fashion Accelerator) provide hands-on support. Publications including annual reports and case studies round out the offering, positioning the agency as a comprehensive one-stop resource for Caribbean private sector development and export readiness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CE Intelligence Portal: Online platform providing information and tools to support business growth into new export markets
• ProNET
• Services Go Global (SGG)
• Business of Music (BOM)
• Caribbean Fashion Showroom
• Fashion Accelerator Programme
• Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS)
• Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF)

Products and services

• CE Intelligence Portal An online platform providing information and tools to support the growth of Caribbean businesses into new export markets.
• Exporters Toolkit A collection of tools and resources to assist Caribbean businesses along their exporting journey, including origin-linked products, supply chain models, EPA guidance, and export preparation steps.
• Technical Assistance Programs Business support programs including GRIT, Caribbean Virtual E-Commerce Accelerator Programme, Youth Entrepreneur Programme, Caribbean Fashion Showroom, and Women Empowered through Export (WE-XPORT), provided to Caribbean MSMEs and exporters.
• Grant Funding Programs Funding solutions including Building Resilient Innovation for Digital & Green Enterprises (BRIDGE), Direct Support Grants Programme, Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS), and Angel Investing support, administered to Caribbean businesses with export potential.
• Training Programs Capacity building programs including Webinars On Demand, Competitive Intelligence Training, Fashion Accelerator Programme, Management Consulting ISO Training, Business of Music, Services Go Global, SBDC establishment, and ProNET Training, delivered to Caribbean MSMEs.
• Publications Research and reports including the Annual Results Report, case studies such as Naledo Foods & Beverages Inc., and the Caribbean Investment Forum Investment Catalogue.
• Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) Annual investment forum connecting global investors with Caribbean projects under themes of Smart, Green, Connected, featuring investment-ready project pipeline across sustainable agriculture, digital transformation, green economy, and logistics sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over USD 78 million in investment opportunities presented at the 2025 Caribbean Investment Forum
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Compete Caribbean Partnership FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting competitive private sector development through grants and technical cooperation.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency partner supporting ProNET training, climate initiatives, and private sector development programs.
• Expertise FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench development agency partner supporting regional private sector development and trade capacity building.
• International Trade Centre (ITC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency partner supporting export development, market intelligence, and trade facilitation programs.
• UNESCOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency partner supporting creative industries development including music, fashion, and cultural sectors.
• Republic BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaribbean banking partner supporting the Caribbean Investment Forum and private sector investment initiatives through an MOU.
• Tecnalia VenturessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and innovation partner supporting the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator program.
• African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU partnership to boost trade and investment between Africa and the Caribbean, promoting South-South cooperation.
• CAF BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment bank partnership through MOU to support Caribbean private sector growth.
• Republic Financial Holdings LimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU extension to empower Caribbean businesses through financial sector collaboration.
• Business FrancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench trade promotion agency partnership through MOU to catalyze private sector growth.
• Pleion Group Inc.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU partnership to enhance regional trade and logistics capabilities.
• DHL GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU to enhance MSME competitiveness through e-commerce and logistics capacity building.
• Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and IndustrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU partnership to support increased trade between the Caribbean and Ghana.
• Ghana Union of Traders AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU partnership to support increased trade between the Caribbean and Ghana.
• Association of Small Business Owners-NigeriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU to strengthen economic cooperation between the Caribbean and Nigeria.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Trade Centre (ITC): Joint UN/WTO agency that supports export development and trade intelligence for developing economies. Direct peer in mandate to build MSME export capacity and deliver market intelligence services.
• ProColombia: National trade and investment promotion agency for Colombia focused on non-traditional exports, FDI attraction, and country branding. Closely comparable in mandate, structure, and service mix to Caribbean Export's regional role.
• Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility: Caribbean-focused private sector development program supporting competitiveness, innovation, and MSME growth across the region. Directly comparable scope and target beneficiaries.
• Business France: French national agency supporting international expansion of French businesses and inward investment attraction. Direct comparable in trade promotion mandate, though operating in a more developed-market context.

Broad incumbents

• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): Regional multilateral development bank serving CARIFORUM member countries with broader economic development mandate including private sector support. Functions both as a partner and a broader-incumbent peer for Caribbean Export's private sector programs.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency implementing private sector development and skills programs globally. Comparable mandate and delivery model; partner on ProNET training but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean: Latin American and Caribbean development bank financing infrastructure, private sector, and trade. Now a Caribbean Export partner, but a broader incumbent that also runs direct MSME and trade finance programs in the region.
• Expertise France: French public agency for international technical cooperation and expertise export, with active Caribbean private sector and climate programs. Comparable development agency role with broader geographic portfolio.

Regional players

• African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank): Pan-African trade finance and promotion institution focused on intra-African trade and Africa-global trade corridors. Similar trade facilitation and investment promotion role in a different region, now a Caribbean Export MOU partner.

Others

• COFIDES (Compañía Española de Financiación del Desarrollo): Spanish state-owned development finance institution supporting private investment in developing countries. Comparable in channeling development finance to private sector growth, with relevant overlap on Latin America/Caribbean footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CaribXport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzM2OVhZq8Df5BafveK1Fpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaribbeanExport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caribbeanexport
• Instagraminstagram.com/caribbeanexport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caribbean Export Development Agency