Outcomes from the Inaugural Diaspora Business Week 26 – 31 March 2012
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Date MONDAY 26th MARCH
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Activity
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Denis St.Bernard Claire Jackson
CENUK CENUK
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CENUK Business Breakfast – at the Veranda Restaurant – Brixton
The start of a week-long series of activities for the Inaugural Diaspora Business Week to enable the Caribbean Stock Exchanges to meet members of the Diaspora and other business interests in the UK.
The CXN Team made presentations to over 50 individuals comprising the Mayor of Lambeth, the Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council, representatives from UKTI, a number of Lambeth councillors, Streatham Town Centre Manager and various local businesses, individuals from Caribbean SMEs and key organisations were present at the breakfast seminar.
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Mrs Marlene Marlon Yarde
Street-Forrest
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St Martin’s School
The CXN Team visited and made presenting to schools in the Caribbean Diaspora Communities. Established links with schools – by having effective interactions thereby creating a great desire and interest amongst the students to learn more about the CXN and their Caribbean roots.
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CXN meeting at the LSE
Marlon Yard BSE, Tony Weeresingle LSE, Marleen Street Forrest – JSE, and Denis St.Bernard- CENUK at London Stock Exchange HQ
Ibukun Adebayou
Head, Primary Markets: South Asia, Middle East and Africa – LSE
Ms. Antonella Amadel
Head of International Relations
LSE
Penny Carballo-Smith
Law and Governance – CENUK
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London Stock Exchange Business Meeting
A wide range of issues were discussed, including the prospects of finding solutions for market surveillance system for the Caribbean Stock Exchanges and JSE – LSE collaboration on training possibilities.
Established Links with the LSE Academy to create alliances in an effort to attract investments into the Caribbean via the (Caribbean Stock Exchanges (CXN
Action Plan – Proposed Symposium with LSE for UK SMEs to get them fit and proper for potential listing at AIM (Junior Market), targeting the likes of UKTI, Evening Std etc to support this initiative (DSTB).
Mrs. Street- Forest, who led the regional stock exchanges Team, was
very instrumental in creating high level linkages with the London Stock Exchange (LSE), which could see not only Jamaican and Caribbean Companies being listed on the LSE, but also creating the opportunities for millions of pounds to be poured into the region through our effectively regulated exchanges. Satyajit Seneviratne – Director Business, Development & Denis St. Bernard CENUK
Tony Weeresingle Devon Thomas – Managing Director
Director of Global Development Lambeth Business Enterprise
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Her Excellency Joan Thomas-Edwards
Presentation at Jamaica High Commission
Mrs Marlene Street-Forrest
Head of Jamaica Stock Exchange
Cecila Grandson-Mackie
UK Diaspora Advisory Board Member
Denis St Bernard –
Director of Operations CENUK
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Jamaica High Commission Launch and Business Reception
The Commission were happy to be a part of Diaspora Business Week and sees this as an ongoing collaboration. The evening enabled us to build a credible relationship with the mission.
Excited a number of SMEs expressing interest in CXN Junior listing.
Demystified the CXN to the masses and created investment interest throughout the Caribbean Diaspora.
Opening Remarks and Welcome
Her Excellency Joan Thomas-Edwards, Deputy High Commissioner
With guest speakers from other Stock Exchanges and UK Businesses
Key Note Speaker Mrs. Marlene Street-Forrest, Head of Jamaica Stock Exchange addressed a full house at the High Commission
Presentation: Business and Investment opportunities in Jamaica. The emergence of the Junior stock exchange and forging links with Jamaica Diaspora.
Clyde Baker Devon Thomas – Managing Director
Finance Director – CENUK Lambeth Business Enterprise
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TUESDAY 27th MARCH
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Commonwealth Secretariat SME Unit Business Meeting
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Mrs Marlene Street-Forrest and
Denis St Bernard
Arindam Roy- Adviser and Head Debt Management Section
Commonwealth Secretariat
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The meeting consisted of discussion on matters of common interest:
· a) Caribbean Small Business (and possibly Micro) Finance Fund framework
· c) Debt Management (Arindam Roy joined the discussion via conference call)
· Assistance from India on derivatives and related trading platforms
· c) Possibility of exploring bilateral assistance to Jamaica from India.
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Ram Venuprasad, Interim Head Marlon Yarde
Office of the Deputy Secretary-General CEO Barbados Stock Exchange
of the Commonwealth
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Barbados High Commission Business Reception
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H.E. Mr. Hugh Anthony Arthur
High Commissioner
Deputy High Commissioner
Donville Johnson
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The Commission were happy to be a part of Diaspora Business Week and sees this as an ongoing collaboration. The evening enabled us to build a credible relationship with the mission and created investment interest.
Opening Remarks and Welcome
His Excellency Anthony Arthur, Barbados High Commissioner
Donville Johnson, Deputy High Commissioner of Barbados
With guest speakers from other Stock Exchanges and UK Businesses
Key Note Speaker
Marlon Yarde, CEO Barbados Stock Exchange
Presentation: Business and Investment opportunities in Barbados. Diaspora Trade Competencies and opportunities. The use of the stock exchange and securities in Barbados to facilitate effective trade and investment in the Diaspora.
Marlon Yarde Marlene Street-Forrest
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WEDNESDAY 28th MARCH
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Trinidad & Tobago High Commission Business Reception
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Mrs Beverley Awonaya –
Public Affairs- Trinidad & Tobago HC
Marlene Street-Forrest- Presentation
Trinidad & Tobago H C
Nathaniel Peat, Mrs Beverley Awonaya and Marlon Yarde
Ansel Wong –
Senior Business Consultant
Presentation at Trinidad & Tobago HC
Sean Freckleton –
SIPP Investment Specialist
Preventing Poverty in Retirement
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The Commission were happy to be a part of Diaspora Business Week and sees this as an ongoing collaboration. The evening enabled us to build a credible relationship with the mission and created investment interest.
Opening Remarks and Welcome
Mrs Beverley Awonaya, Public Affairs – T&T HC
Guest Speakers from other Stock Exchanges and UK Businesses
Marlon Yarde, CEO Barbados Stock Exchange
Presentation: Business and Investment opportunities in Barbados. Diaspora Trade Competencies and opportunities. The use of the stock exchange and securities to facilitate effective trade and investment in the Diaspora
Sean Freckleton, Preventing Poverty in Retirement
How much is your pension fund currently worth?
Key Note Speaker
Ansel Wong, Senior Business Consultant
Presentation: Business and Investment opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago.
and forging links with Trinidad and Tobago within the Diaspora.
Marlon Yarde – Presentation – Trinidad & Tobago High Commission
Audience at the CXN presentation – Trinidad & Tobago High Commission
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THURSDAY 29th MARCH
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Drapers Hall – JAMPRO Fourth Investment Forum
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Hon. Minister Anthony Hylton
Drapers Hall Presentation
Baroness Howells of St Davids
Marlene Street-Forrest
at Drapers Hall
Peter de Bruyne, Managing Director of BMCE & Michael Riley
Colin Jackson, CBE
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Investment and Trade Opportunities:
At Drapers’ Hall, London, Developing Markets Associates in association with JAMPRO (Jamaica Trade Invest) hosted the Fourth Annual Jamaica-UK Investment Forum to coincide with the nation’s fiftieth year of independence.
This event was attended by around 200 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors.
Opening addresses were given by Sancia Bennett-Templer, President, JAMPRO; Graham Glover, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission to Jamaica; and Joan Edwards, Deputy High Commissioner, Jamaican High Commission.
Presentation on Jamaica’s potential and its government’s investment drive by Hon Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce.
The closing remarks were given by Laurence Jones, European Regional Manager, JAMPRO, followed a Drinks Reception at which the attendees were addressed by the guest speakers, Colin Jackson, CBE, and Levi Roots.
Anthony Hylton (right), Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce
greets Nick Cooper (2nd right), Executive Director, Cable & Wireless
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FRIDAY 30th MARCH
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Clapham Park Centre School- Business Forum and Seminars
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Del Attah – of Zeraxis
presentation at Clapham Park Centre School
Marlon Yarde and Denis St Bernard
Clapham Park Centre School-
Business Forum
Thalia Maragh
Barrister/CENUK Consultant
at Clapham Park Centre School-
Business Forum
Devon Thomas – Managing Director
Lambeth Business Enterprise
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Opening Speech and Welcome, Presentations byHer Worshipful Christiani Valcarcal the Mayor of Lambeth
Special guest- His Excellency Graham Glover – UK Deputy High Commissioner to Jamaica
Presentations
Mrs. Marlene Street-Forrest, Head of Jamaica Stock Exchange
Presentation: Business and Investment opportunities in Jamaica. The emergence of the Junior stock exchange and forging links with Jamaica Diaspora.
Marlon Yarde, CEO Barbados Stock Exchange
Presentation: Business and Investment opportunities in Barbados. Diaspora
Trade Competencies and opportunities. The use of the stock exchange and securities in Barbados to facilitate effective trade and investment in the Diaspora
· How the future thinks – Nathaniel Peat
· Legal health checks for your business – Thalia Maragh
· New business opportunities arising in the UK – Penny Carballo–Smith
· New opportunities for the Caribbean UK Diaspora SME Businesses and how to obtain them – Devon Thomas
· How technology can help you to reduce costs and maximise profits – Del Attah
His Excellency Graham Glover – Her Worshipful Christiani
UK Deputy High Commissioner Valcarcal – Mayor of Lambeth
to Jamaica
Nathaniel Peat – Head Penny Carballo-Smith- Diane Edwards –
of Jammin/CENUK Consultant Law and Governance – CENUK Chair CENUK
Claire Jackson Wendel Clement
Operations Manager/CENUK Director Marketing and IT/CENUK
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SATURDAY 31st March
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Birmingham Business Forum – Presentations and Seminar
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Marlon Yarde Denis St.Bernard
Carol Cooper Neville Ellis
Devon Thomas Sean Freckleton
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Panel discussion with local Birmingham businesses – Panel –
Hon Alderman John Hemming MP, Sue Summers – Director of Finance –Birmingham, Cllr. Paulette Hamilton – Handsworth Wood, Birmingham
Carol Cooper – Diaspora Advisory Board Member (UK North) and
Organiser – Inaugural Diaspora Event Birmingham
Presentations
Marlon Yarde, CEO Barbados Stock Exchange
Business and Investment opportunities in Barbados. Diaspora
Trade Competencies and opportunities. The use of the stock exchange and securities in Barbados to facilitate effective trade and investment in the Diaspora
Neville Ellis, Senior Marketing Officer- Jamaica Stock Exchange
Stock market class – how to read the stock report and identify the symbols and how to choose stocks for your portfolio.
Devon Thomas, Managing Director , Lambeth Business Enterprise
Self sustaining business development & the History of maintaining our resources
Sean Freckleton –SIPP Investment Specialist – Preventing Poverty in Retirement
How you can prevent poverty in your retirement by taking control of the money in your pension.
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Feedback
The Diaspora Business Week is an idea whose time has come and is inevitable.
While we do have about 18 charities registered with the charities commission under search term Jamaica, and while less than 25% of them have excellent annual events, it has now come to a point where they are largely collectively chasing scarce benefits. The focus has to be on tangible business and how we can generate loads more of it, so that yes we can donate a bit to these
charities and other worthy causes.
While we do have about 18 charities registered with the charities commission under search term Jamaica, and while less than 25% of them have excellent annual events, it has now come to a point where they are largely collectively chasing scarce benefits. The focus has to be on tangible business and how we can generate loads more of it, so that yes we can donate a bit to these
charities and other worthy causes.
Of the Diaspora Business week, the only day I did not attend was the Monday ( I had prior commitments.) ; breakfast at Veranda and the official launch at the Jamaica High Commission. The Tuesday event at Barbados HC was very well attended and so too was the Wednesday at Trinidad HC. On Thursday the Diaspora Business Week merged with the Jamaica UK Investment forum at which I met the delegation from Jampro and spoke with the other Jamaican based companies who came for the event; I have already been chasing the likes of Lime/Cable & Wireless and Hampden Rum regarding Jamaica 50 supplement. The Friday expo at Clapham Park Centre was not as busy as hoped but was a fitting close to the London leg of the event.
For me the real eye opener was the Birmingham leg of the event on the Saturday. The early section was dedicated to the business of their Business Network with the section after lunch given over to the Diaspora Business Week team. Special mention must be made of Neville Ellis, Marketing Manager Jamaica Stock Exchange who held a stock market class with the help of the stock exchange pages from the Weekly Gleaner. Just over 30 participants were provided with their own copy of the Weekly Gleaner and taken through in a methodical manner on how to read the stock report and identify the symbols and actually how to choose stocks for their portfolio.
For me this was the highlight of the week, considering we have information literally under our noses, but ever so often we need to look at it with different eyes.
It was a very successful and hectic week. Many are now looking forward to next year’s Diaspora Week, where the organisers -The Caribbean Enterprise Network UK (CENUK), promises to take it to a next level.
I am happy that GV Media was able to support this project and will continue to do so in the future, and wish CENUK and the team all the best in getting Caribbean nationals in the UK to invest in the Caribbean while still living in the UK.
Garfield Robinson – GV Media
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Endorsements
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“In order for Britain to compete and pay its way in the world, Diaspora communities have a crucial role to play in strengthening links with the world’s emerging economies, helping boost trade and access to new markets.
“I am very pleased to support Diaspora Business Week which I know will make an important contribution to this end.”
Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna MP
Very best wishes to you and everyone concerned at CENUK, and we wish you a successful event.
Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
Special Guest
Her Worshipful Christiani Valcarcal – Mayor or Lambeth
His Excellency Graham Glover – UK Deputy High Commissioner to Jamaica
Thank you
Devon Thomas, Carol Cooper, Del Attah, Nathaniel Peat, Diane Edwards, Penny Carballo-Smith,
Rudi Page, Shurwin Harewood, Thali Amaragh, Flake Bake Patties, Lahnah Johnson, Veranda Restaurant, Winston Gooden.
MEDIA PARTNERS – GV Media Group Ltd THE VOICE, OBE TV, BEN TV and Colorful Radio
