PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Renewed hope for the region’s agricultural sector is on the horizon with the imminent announcement of a global initiative to transform the Caribbean’s food and beverage industry.
The US-based Global Business Innovation Corporation (GBIC), comprising business partners from the United States, the Caribbean and Brazil, will launch a “Caribbean Food Business Innovation Revolution” in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, next week as the group aims to boost Caribbean economies through increased agricultural, agri-business and food and beverage exports.
With the help of exporTT Ltd., the National Export Facilitation Organization of Trinidad and Tobago, the launch will take place over breakfast at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13 at exporTT’s Head Office, 151B Charlotte Street in Port-of-Spain.
“We believe the Caribbean food industry can become a world leader in promoting innovative business models,” said GBIC director and spokesperson for the initiative Dr. Basil Springer.
The regional management consultant explained that GBIC is proposing that the industry embrace a year-round export driven thrust to complement the gains already achieved through other initiatives.
Over the past few months the GBIC team has been developing the strategy, which is focused on food design, innovation, shepherding and communications to help the region’s manufacturers penetrate the global marketplace.
“This Caribbean Food Business Innovation Revolution is designed around a three-pronged, coordinated approach: governmental investment in manufacturers to boost economic growth; investment by the business community in manufacturers, aimed at enhancing profitability and community development; and the engagement of manufacturers to support this incredible opportunity,” Dr. Springer explained.
The GBIC team also includes US-based Guyanese-American Dr. Owen Carryl, a product and technology development executive and innovation strategist who previously served in executive leadership positions with Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo.
The Mexico-based Brazilian native Diego Ruzzarin, an industrial designer, leads GBIC’s food design strategy, having birthed the food design group at PepsiCo. He subsequently assisted the Brazil and Singapore governments with their food and beverage development thrusts.
US-based marketing and public relations practitioner Bevan Springer will manage the communications platform while Dr. Springer will spearhead shepherding services.
The team will be in Trinidad from Monday, January 12 to Wednesday, January 14, 2015, to launch the initiative.
