The OECS Export Development Unit (OECS/EDU) in collaboration with the consulting firm, C&G International out of Barbados completed a 3 Year Company Development Plan pilot project earlier this year (March – May 2009) geared towards enhancing the competitiveness of 6 OECS firms.  

OECS/EDU saw the need to develop best practices and to create more success stories within the OECS sub region and in this regard embarked on this pilot project, which targeted 6 OECS firms in Dominica, St. Lucia, and Grenada, aimed at helping them become World Class Manufacturers.  

The comprehensive in-plant assessments which were carried out focused on all areas of the business and involved working very closely with each company’s management to ensure that they were fully committed to the project: 

These Development Plans were extremely well received and fully endosed by the respective companies who took part in the pilot project, and here are some of their comments with regards to the quality and timeliness of this OECS/EDU intervention: 

“The 3 Year Development Plan pilot project offered by the OECS/EDU was greatly welcomed by Caribbean Agro Producers Corporation. We especially welcomed the challenge of maturing our business into a 21^st century compliant, progressive and profit oriented entity. This project offers hopes of realizing these dreams.  

We look forward to further interventions stemming from the Development Plan and trust that the time spent will prove to be not only beneficial to us as a company, but that its successful implementation will yield benefits to our employees, community, and country.” 

Mr. Patrick Defoe
Co-Managing Director
Caribbean Agro Producers Corporation
(DOMINICA) 

“We are confident that the resulting effort of this technical assistance development initiative will ultimately position the company to attain the status of World Class Manufacturer. 

Management welcomes this momentous initiative and avail itself to work in unison with the OECS/EDU to realize the fullest potential of this initiative. “ 

Mr. John Robin
Managing Director
Benjo’s Seamoss and Agro Processing Co. Ltd.
(DOMINICA) 

“The Board of Directors and Management of the St. Lucia Coconut Growers’ Association Limited (SLCGA) is extremely pleased to have been selected by the OECS – Export Development Unit (EDU) as part of a pilot project to assist in formulating a 3-Year Development Plan.  We would like to state that the Plan is a very workable and practical one and we have already begun the implementation of certain aspects of it.  We look forward to future opportunities and hope for continued collaboration and support.”  

Gerald Morris
General Manager
St. Lucia Coconut Growers Association Ltd.
(St. Lucia) 

“Natmed Ltd. would like to express its appreciation and gratitude to the OECS/EDU for having selected Natmed Ltd. as one of the client companies to have recently undergone the Three Year Development Plan pilot exercise. 

As a small and developing company, decisions are often made that may be suitable at the time. However, with growth in mind, it was an important exercise to actually identify the different steps and evaluate the efficiencies, costs, and productivities, and learn what can be done to help overcome many obstacles. This intervention has been an invaluable exercise to our company’s desire to continue to grow and become more competitive in the world markets. “ 

Dr. Carlos Segovia
Director
Natmed Ltd.
(St. Lucia) 

“We at Glenelg Spring Water Inc wish to commend the OECS/EDU for the initiative which they undertook to assist a number of OECS/EDU manufacturers with a 3 year development plan. The intervention was very timely for Glenelg as we were at a crossroads in terms of our future development. By working with the highly experienced consulting firm in collaboration with the OECS/EDU we were able to plot a clear path for our future. We now look forward to continuing to work with OECS/EDU as we implement the plan.” 

John Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Glenelg Spring Water Inc
(Grenada) 

“We are particularly pleased with the recent assistance provided through the OECS/EDU to us in the completion of a 3 Year Development Plan. The benefits include a plan for Grenada Distillers to take advantage of the export market as we endeavour to increase our sales.” 

Leroy Neckles
Chairman
Grenada Distillers Ltd.
(Grenada) 

The OECS/EDU is now in the process of working towards the implementation of these plans, by identifying improvement activities specified in the plans for which we can provide further support to the respective firms. In addition, these Development Plans can be used as effective tools for sourcing additional funding from financial institutions or other donor funded agencies.