Trinidad and Tobago

<p>ITC is currently implementing the micro-level pillar of the EU-ACP Business-friendly programme, which aims to support value chains through inclusive policies, investment promotion, and alliances. The program focuses on strengthening value chain governance and investment, as well as increasing the competitiveness of small farmers and MSMEs. A recently signed top-up agreement extends the implementation duration of the existing EU-ACP Business Friendly programme (B807) by 48 months, integrating additional funding and outputs into the existing initiative. The top-up aligns with the programme&apos;s objectives and will enhance access to value chain finance and sustainable investment. Three new outputs include enhancing access to agribusiness Value Chain finance and a Capacity Building Mechanism to support Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence, CSR &nbsp;and accompanying measure implementation, tailored to OACPS Member States. An initial six-month inception phase define the scope of intervention in the rum/sugar sector and advanced the selection of additional countries that will be included in the ongoing project across all value chains, namely coffee, cocoa, coconuts, cotton/fashion, kava, and rum/sugar sectors.</p>

<p>Mainstream trade in Trinidad and Tobago&apos;s economic planning, through the design of a National Export Strategy, with a view to diversifying the economy, strengthening SMEs competitiveness and trade/investment support institutions, and focusing on priority sectors and markets.</p>

<p>A quadruple shock of COVID, climate change, conflict, and cost-of-living have pushed the topic of food security and the need for collective action to the top of the global agenda. In the Caribbean, food security is a complex issue influenced by climate change, economic challenges, trade policies, and agricultural practices. Key concerns include the region&apos;s vulnerability to climate events, heavy reliance on food imports, limited agricultural productivity due to infrastructure and technique limitations, the impact of tourism on food security, and health problems tied to dietary patterns and access to nutritious foods.</p><p>In this context, this project aims to support agri-MSMEs, cooperatives and producers (smallholder farmers and fishers) to become more competitive and resilient through value addition, diversification and new market development at the regional level. The overall objective is to contribute to incomes, sustainability &amp; resilience as well as to improve food security, nutrition and healthier diets in the Caribbean region.</p>

<p>The United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme aims to increase trade from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) by maximizing the benefits of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The UKTP Programme works in partnership with government agencies, private sector organisations, public sector institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises and other local stakeholders. It is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC).</p><p>This project provides support to in countries that have signed the UK-CARIFORUM and the Eastern and Southern Africa EPAs that are ineligible for Overseas Development Assistance in the Caribbean region (Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago) and the Indian Ocean Region (Seychelles). The project also supports UK exports to and imports from countries covered by an EPA and Developing Countries Trading Schemes for activities where the primary beneficiary of the intervention is not ODA eligible, and ODA eligible beneficiaries are only secondary beneficiaries. &nbsp;</p><p>The project will implement activities in the areas of EPA awareness, improved business environment, institutional capacity development and SME strengthening and market linkages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ITC&rsquo; Trade Negotiations and Policy Reform Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of public and private sector stakeholders to engage in trade negotiations and formulate policies and regulations on emerging issues. These include investment facilitation, green trade, e-commerce/digitalization, including artificial intelligence, inclusive trade, sustainable and resilient value chains, industrialization, and multilateral and regional integration.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201);">This project seeks to (a) bridge information asymmetries through knowledge-sharing activities that are made available, as global public goods; (b) pilot new and innovative approaches on emerging issues such as digital and sustainable trade; (c) increase visibility among beneficiary countries/donors and strengthen credibility as a leading technical partner for UN agencies and WTO; and (d) deliver small projects based on requests received by clients as a means to ensure ITC&apos;s relevance on the topics, maintain visibility, and serve as proof of concept to leverage funding opportunities under Window 2.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201);">In 2024, the project focused primarily on &nbsp;digital and &nbsp;sustainable trade trends, with targeted interventions in the area of inclusive trade (i.e. youth), competition policy and investment facilitation. In 2025, with an allocation of only USD 100,000, the project will focus on a few low-cost, high-Impact initiatives. Digital trade, including artificial intelligence, green trade, and sustainable and resilient value chains will be prioritised. Proposed technical interventions include capacity-building, advisory support and dialogues on these critical issues, and some targeted support to strengthen domestic policy frameworks in response to developments in these areas.</span></p><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><p><a href="#_msoanchor_1"></a></p><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><p><a href="#_msoanchor_1"></a></p><p data-end="1488" data-start="1154">In designing and implementing this support, ITC draws on existing multilateral, regional, and bilateral trading frameworks to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to domestic trade and investment policy reforms. This approach ensures that measures implemented are aligned with trade commitments and international best practices.</p><p data-end="1599" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="1490">Activities under this project will be carried out based on requests received from countries and institutions.</p>