WE-Xport Women Empowered through Export

Year(s): 2018
Client: Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA)
Origin of funding: European Development Fund (10th EDF)
Sector(s): food & specialty food, personal care products, health & beauty 
Country(s): Bahamas, Jamaica, Suriname

An initiative designed and administered by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the ​WE-Xport programme focused on supporting Caribbean women in business to start exporting or increase the exports of their products and services with the following core objectives:

1. To identify specific areas of weaknesses affecting women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses
2. To increase the technical capacity of women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs
3. To build the soft skills of women entrepreneurs and representatives of women-owned businesses

Kisserup was contracted by Caribbean Export Development Agency as a Business Coach for three women-owned and operated companies.  The Business Coaching element was an initiative under which Kisserup was contracted to provide direct assistance through one-on-one mentoring and coaching to three women-led Caribbean enterprises with a focus on: Product & Service Development, Time Management, Marketing & Promotional Strategies, and Research Ability. Furthermore, subsequent mentoring sessions were comprised of 2-hour weekly sessions over the duration of the programme.  Following each session, firms were assigned specific activities and ‘homework’ to complete for review, implementation, and discussion in the next session. At the end of this three-month business coaching initiative, the three Caribbean women-owned enterprises  had the following as parts of their individual successes:

1. Securing orders for five (5) Starbucks outlets in Jamaica.
2. Securing a distributor and retailer in the Netherlands, with their product now being actively sold in the EU market.
3. Securing orders and representation by US Premium Corporate Gift Distributor.

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