By: Staff Writer
June 1, 2021
The executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) says that he is seeking a transformation in the green economy and the digitalisation of the Caribbean region as well as focusing on the tourism rebound and music industry for 2021.
Deodat Maharaj, told Caribbean Magazine Plus coming up to the sixth month mark into his new role as head CEDA about how it differs from when he was the deputy secretary general at the Commonwealth Secretariat where he said, “As the deputy secretary general of the Commonwealth leading the work on economic and social development, my remit was global given the then membership of 53 countries. It was also agenda setting in terms of a broad range of issues from climate change to small states to strengthening the capacities of developing countries in the Commonwealth in areas such as health, education and in the public sector. It also was pioneering in identifying new opportunities such as the blue/ocean economy with sound analytical work.
“The Commonwealth was the pioneer in blue economy work which is now championed by many institutions. As the DSG of the Commonwealth, my interactions were also at the highest levels including Heads and Leaders of global institutions.
Mr Maharaj also said his “remit is happily regional,’ now. “This job gives me the opportunity to serve my region at a time of unprecedented challenge but also unique opportunity. It allows me to help advance a transformational agenda with business playing a central role which is to my mind the way we need to proceed to create opportunity, jobs and wealth for our people.
“More specifically, it gives an opportunity to focus on sectors that can lead to the transformation of our region in areas that we must such as moving to a green economy, embracing digitalisation and focusing on non-tourism related services to create jobs and opportunity. Finally, it gives me a chance to make a difference at this crucial time to my Region, which has given so much to me and made the person I am today.
In pushing this agenda for a green economy and digitalisation of the Caribbean, Mr Maharaj intends to use the Direct Assictance Grant Scheme as an effective tool to getting small and medium sized businesses the start they need to compete in the next decade. Mr Maharaj said: “Following the success of the 2020 Direct Support Grant Programme (DSGP), a grant facility which was developed as a direct response to the pandemic, and which is currently being implemented by beneficiaries, Caribbean Export is seeking to collaborate and partner with donor and development agencies to increase the support offered through grant and other forms of financing.
Consequently, we have now also partnered with Caribbean Development Bank to provide grant funding and technical assistance to SMEs across the region under the Technical Assistance Programme. The programme will be launched next week on May 31, 2021 with the aim of: Providing direct support to the region’s private sector including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on a non-reimbursable basis, given the challenges being experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; Providing support to facilitate activities focused on business continuity; Facilitating the increase of exports within the Caribbean and/or international markets; and capitalising on the benefits of the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME), or any other bilateral or multilateral arrangements signed by the countries of the region within the region or with ACP or European Union (EU) partners.”
The Technical Assistance Programme (TAP) was held yesterday and shared information to businesses on how to access up to $15,000 in grant funding from the EU.
(Show picture of the tap logo)
Mr Maharaj added: “Towards the end of 2021, or early 2022, we plan to launch a Call for Proposals for the 2nd Direct Support Grants Programme. This Call will be funded with the support of the European Union under the 11th EDF. Efforts to partner with other development agencies and funding institutions will continue beyond that.”
Women, however, have criticized agencies like CEDA for not doing more to get women entrepreneurs into the doors and conversations when much needed grant assistance is being shared, to that M Maharaj responded: “Caribbean Export’s Grant programme and its attendant evaluation process is a rigorous and transparent one. Applications are evaluated by independent evaluators on an agreed methodology and grants are awarded to beneficiaries based on the arithmetic average of the scores of the evaluators. These average scores are ranked and the top beneficiaries are awarded a grant based on the size of the financial envelope for that call for proposals.
He continued, “In addition to the above, it is best to look at the data. Among grant recipients, women have made up approximately 55 percent of total beneficiaries during the period 2018 to 2020. In Jamaica specifically, an average of 67 percent of the grant beneficiaries were women (85 percent in 2018, 62 percent in 2019 and 56 percent in 2020).
“Thus, women have been well represented as beneficiaries of grant funds. Recognising the increasing prominence and role of women entrepreneurs, Caribbean Export plans to enhance the targeting of women entrepreneurs across the region in our marketing and promotions efforts to ensure that women continue to have equitable access to all our opportunities.
There are several projects up and coming that CEDA is focusing on for its 2021 agenda and Mr Maharaj is not afraid of calling success before it manifests. However, he is cognizant of the lingering pandemic and how it is shaping Caribbean and world history even now.
He said: “COVID-19 has created new challenges for the Caribbean but has also laid bare pre-existing vulnerabilities. We were arguably the most highly indebted region before the pandemic, we are the same now or even more so. We were highly climate and disaster vulnerable before and we are the same now. Given the acute fiscal constraints faced by governments across the region, there is no option but for business to play a central role in fast-tracking recovery and building resilience. To do this, we need to do the following:
- Boost export development and promotion capacities taking advantage of existing trade agreements – niche products for niche markets at premium prices;
- Steering foreign direct investment our way in high priority sectors that can lead to regional transformation. The focus will be on: Agrotech; Green Economy transition; Business outsourcing; and Technology
- Supporting services as the next frontier for Caribbean business with emphasis on non-tourism related services. For example, commoditizing music to create opportunities, jobs and wealth through our business of music programme.
CEDA will “ramp up support” to businesses in areas identified in tourism and music opportunities this year, including in new and innovative areas (green economy) to create jobs.
Mr Maharaj said: The overall objective is to use this unique opportunity we have to reset the development button in our region and help advance a transformational agenda for the CARIFORUM Caribbean with business playing a leadership role so our people can have good jobs and be able to take care of themselves and their families.”