BARBADOS -  The Caribbean Export Developmental Agency (Caribbean Export) has launched an In-Firm Design and Branding initiative that will provide participating CARIFORUM state firms with technical support and financial assistance for the strengthening of their packaging design and product branding. The In-firm Design and Branding Project is the second phase of the Agency’s Brand Development initiative, the first of which was the successful hosting of a Brand Development and Packaging Workshop/Webinar in July 2013.

The Brand Development and Packaging Workshop was developed to address the specific limitations which regional firms face in branding and preparing their products’ packaging for export and to educate them in the required standards for packaging for export to the European Union. This In-firm Design and Branding Project will take a more practical approach, providing a unique opportunity for regional firms to receive technical assistance in the formulation of effective branding specific to their businesses from the internationally recognised UK based design firm Brand 42.

Eight CARIFORUM firms were successful in meeting the criteria to participate in this initiative including; Viking Traders Limited and Baron Foods Limited from St. Lucia; Patwa Apparel, Spring Vale Enterprises and Southside Distributors Limited from Jamaica; Vincy fresh, Tan Bun Skrati and Armstrong Manufacturing Limited from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Barbados respectively. Brand 42 will be a technical partner in this project, providing customized consultations and guidance to each of the companies involved and is scheduled to begin its initial consultations at the beginning of April with the proceedings lasting for six months thereafter.

 Mrs. Pamela coke Hamilton, Executive Director of Caribbean Export, commented:“This is another proactive and invaluable offering from the Agency. Our regional firms stand to gain immensely from this project not only in terms of the improvement to their branding and packaging, which is crucial, but also in their knowledge of international standards and procedures, which will benefit their operations across the board.”