Caribbean Exports Development exports a Fashion Show to Kenya

By Brenda Zulu in Nairobi, Kenya

Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat and the Caribbean Export Development in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the Pacific Island Forum uniquely curated and showcased the talent of over 80 ACP designers from 20 countries in Nairobi, at the Kenyatta International Conference Center on 7th December 2019.

This Fashion Extravaganza was held under the high patronage of the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. 

The fashion show was visual amaze that presented a practical example of intra ACP and ACP-EU collaborations, showing how culture can unite our countries while securing a better future for the people.

Honorable Prime Minister and Queen Counsellor Mottley presently holds the portfolios of Minister of finance, Economic Affairs and Investment. Her career and life is a testimony to championing intra- ACP trade and developing.

 

The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) also termed “Orange economy” generate over a US2.250 trillion of revenue and 29,5 million jobs globally, according to the First Global Map of Cultural and Creative Industries in December 2015.

The high potential business and investment opportunities are a special focus directed to regional value chains and exports capacity development for the ACP regions and countries and notably the fashion and garment industry.

At a panel discussion Faraz Ali, Chairman, Fashion Council of Fiji said it was very important if the Pacific could maintain their culture.

He said that Fashion was not limited by boarders as it could easily be exported. He noted that in the Pacific they where not a cohesive group and that they did not speak to each other. 

“We don’t communicate. You will find that the Pacific is left out from Africa and Caribbean group,” said Ali. 

He said there was need to market together with others including Africans and Caribbean’s. He observed that he has seen a lot of Pacific fashion on the run ways but has never heard the source of the fabric being mentioned.

He added that there was need to step in and feel that the Pacific were part of the conversations seeing that fashion shows were the hearts of their industries.

Meanwhile, Escipion Oliveira, Deputy Executive Director, Caribbean Export Development Agency said they carry out numerous programmes based activities designed to enhance the competiveness of regional small and medium sized enterprises (SMSs), promote trade and development among the CARIFORUM States the French Caribbean Outermost Region (FORs) and the EU overseas countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Caribbean. Caribbean Export also facilities partnerships between CARICOM, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic through the implementation of Bi- National programs.

He outlined the program activities on export development to include access to finance, capacity building and the provision to develop their businesses specifically for export.

As for intellectual property and how it was managed the forum heard that there was need for capacity building to entrepreneurs.