Why the Caribbean Investment Forum matters for chocolate makers
ITC is transforming the landscape for small businesses in the Caribbean, equipping them with the tools to access investment and scale sustainably. At the 2024 Caribbean Investment Forum, enterprises showcased their potential to investors, bridging the gap between local innovation and global capital.
The International Trade Centre (ITC), through its sustainable agribusiness Alliances for Action initiative, is revolutionizing the way small agribusinesses in the Caribbean access investment opportunities and prepare to trade globally.
By adopting an inclusive and sustainable approach from farm to shelf, ITC ensures that these enterprises unlock their potential and foster economic growth.
As part of this effort, three Caribbean cocoa businesses – Belmont Estate from Grenada, and Mount Pleasant and Pure Chocolate from Jamaica – joined the 2024 Caribbean Investment Forum in Guyana.
As part of the ACP Business-Friendly programme funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, ITC provided comprehensive training and coaching to prepare these enterprises for their first conference focused on finance and investment. This included connecting them with capital providers – and creating tailored business plans, refining financials, preparing pitch decks, and honing their pitching skills beforehand.
Why small businesses matter
Small businesses are the cornerstone of food security, rural livelihoods, and regional economic growth. But when they’re ready to grow, they face limited access to investment, insufficient financial literacy, and unpredictable market conditions.
These challenges are exacerbated by climate change, which heightens the need for innovative, sustainable solutions.
ITC’s Alliances for Action tackles these challenges head-on by making small businesses investment ready. The approach focuses on improving financial management, developing strong business plans, and facilitating direct connections with investors.
Well-funded small businesses can scale innovative technologies that increase productivity, reduce environmental footprints, and make value chains more efficient. Moreover, their growth ensures better market access for smallholder farmers and reduces poverty in rural communities.
By equipping small businesses with the tools to attract and manage capital, ITC supports them in driving both social impact and economic sustainability.
Catalyzing growth through global platforms
The Caribbean Investment Forum hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, connects small businesses with international and regional investors, development partners, and financial institutions.
Beyond funding opportunities, the event provided learning experiences through panels, master classes, and networking sessions.
By facilitating these interactions, ITC not only opened doors for direct investment leads but also allowed enterprises to connect with potential business partners.
The forum exemplifies ITC’s broader strategy of bridging the gap between small businesses and capital providers – a top priority for 2025. As these enterprises grow, they not only strengthen the Caribbean’s position in global agribusiness markets but also inspire investor confidence.
About the project
The ACP Business-Friendly programme is funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and jointly implemented by ITC’s Alliances for Action, the World Bank and UNIDO. It seeks to improve the ability of agribusiness firms in ACP countries to compete, grow and prosper in domestic, regional and international markets. Through the Alliances for Action approach, it promotes inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains that value all stakeholders from farm to shelf.
