A SCOTTISH trade mission aiming to establish a direct exporting route from Scotland to Barbados is set to take place between November 20 and 25.
The mission will bring together a range of delegates from sectors including finance, education and hospitality to highlight trading and investment opportunities in Barbados.
It is hoped this can act as a gateway to markets in the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America.
Organised by the Renfrewshire Business Network (RBN) in collaboration with Invest Barbados and Department for International Trade Scotland (DIT), the mission will seek to promote the considerable opportunities available and highlight the success of Scottish companies who have invested on the island.
Jo Smith of RBN said: “RBN was established in 2012 to encourage businesses to connect and grow, so the trade mission is an ideal fit with this ethos.
“Scotland has many links with Barbados, such as the barrels in the Mount Gay distillery coming from Islay; a shared patron saint in St Andrew, and their beautiful Scotland district.
“RBN members are already setting up in Barbados, and I’m looking forward to seeing further opportunities for business growth there. The support of Invest Barbados and the DIT has been invaluable.”
Barbados has ambitions to become a “digitally-enabled nation” and is on track to achieve its goal of 100% renewable energy generation by 2030.
A company whose involvement in a previous trade mission has led to success is Aberdeen-based OGV Taprooms.
Director of OGV Taprooms Kenny Dooley said: "In addition to our bar in Aberdeen, we currently operate a bar on the lovely island of Barbados at El Sueño.
"The local market has proven a fantastic opportunity, and it is clear that there is much affection for Scotland from Bajans.
"We have been inspired to such an extent that over the next few years our goal is to expand into five new locations across the Caribbean, with Barbados very much acting as the gateway to achieving this.
“We attended last year’s trade mission and had a very positive experience, and I would definitely recommend it to other businesses.
"While our initial bar location fell through, we were able to make several follow up trips to Barbados and we eventually managed to find a location in El Sueño that was ultimately a better option."
The CEO of Invest Barbados, Kaye-Anne Greenidge, added: "We are delighted to be co-hosting and being the main sponsors for this event. Scotland enjoys extensive connections with Barbados, and we hope that this trade mission will support the establishment of a direct exporting route and highlight the immense business opportunities available."
