The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has long recongnised the vast export potential of the regional handicraft, gift and fashion industries and the potential linkages with other sectors such as agriculture and tourism and has been engaged in a programme of assistance to enhance the export competitiveness of these industries.

One such initiative is the Caribbean Gift and Craft Show (CGCS), which from its inception in 1993 (then known as Caribbean Craft Market Place), has been in the vanguard of stimulating and promoting the development of new poroducts, new markets and incremental export sales in the handicraft and gift sectors.

The CGCS is a sector-specific trade and gift show that enjoys the reputation as the premier event of its kind in the region. It is an annual event and to date shows have been held in the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Grenada and Barbados.

Generally, exhibitors have reported tremendous successes as a result of their participation in CGCS in relation to both the value of confirmed sales and in the estimated value of resulting future business. These successes are almost evenly matched by very good reports of new product launches, high market demand for individual products, new market penetration, excelled networking opportunities and invaluable learning accessed by the participating enterprises.

One of the more important conclusions to be drawn from the CGCS experience is that the value of regional trade shows goes far beyond the critical dollars of trade generated. Small producers in the Caribbean find themselves in a vulnerable position against the forces of trade liberalization and globalization, hence events that encourage and promote regional integration offer unique opportunities to strengthen networking and the development of trade.