More than 130 top designers from the Caribbean will exhibit their creative skills and products at Design Caribbean 2011 in the Dominican Republic in September.
The region’s biggest trade-fair and exposition, organised and managed by the Barbados-based Caribbean Export Developoment Agency, is scheduled for September 1-4 and will embrace designers and artisans from all CARIFORUM countries.
Design Caribbean is a successor to the Caribbean Gift and Craft show, and has emerged as the foremost tradeshow for exposing the hand-crafted products of the region mainly for the benefit of international buyers.
Executive Director of Caribbean Export, Pamela Coke-Hamilton said apart from offering Caribbean designers greater access to important regional and international buyers, Design Caribbean will also have an educational element.
“We are very excited about this project as it provides a more integrated and better platform for how we in the Caribbean sell ourselves …We are working with our artisans, designers and other talented people of the region to access the international marketplace,” said Coke-Hamilton.
Caribbean Export has been working with several Caribbean companies to improve their competitiveness and their ability to capitalise on opportunities offered under the EU/EPA, with the major objective of increasing the economic benefits to the region from the creative industries.
The multi-dimensional trade-show will also highlight the creativity of nationals in the CARIFORUM region, involved in art, film, fashion, music, ceramics, jewelry, home furnishings, specialty foods, leather goods and other areas.
A kick-off event, which formally launched Design Caribbean 2011, was staged in Santo Domingo last Thursday where top Caribbean entertainers Shaggy and Allison Hinds were the headliners.
Executives of Caribbean Export said the two singers were well known products of the Caribbean and their presence was to help focus attention on the skills and creativity of the people of the CARIFORUM region.
A number of other promotional events are scheduled in different islands in coming months, building towards the main Design Caribbean trade-fair in September.
Further details are available at www.designcaribbean.com
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