On Saturday, October 29, 2022, the Department of Trade, Industry, and Fair Competition hosted its inaugural National Trade Show - Made in TCI 2022 - at the Stubbs Diamond Plaza in the Bight, Providenciales. The event was officially opened by the Honourable E.J. Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade.
The goal of Made in TCI 2022 was to promote goods and services that are locally produced and home grown, including agricultural products, hand-made jewellery, beverages, skin care products, leather goods, home goods, arts and craft, tobacco products, photography services, catering services, events management services, among others. Additionally, the event was geared towards showcasing the work of several government departments and agencies involved in business development, as well as in the facilitation of domestic and international trade in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In order to be considered for the exhibition, businesses had to meet several criteria, including being Turks Islander owned or controlled and maintaining a current TCI business license. As it relates to the sale of goods, businesses had to demonstrate that the goods to be displayed were either fully or partially processed within the Turks and Caicos Islands. As it relates to the sale of services, businesses had to demonstrate that a significant portion of their activities is undertaken within the jurisdiction of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Thirty (30) businesses and six (6) government entities received credentials to participate in the exhibition at Made in TCI 2022. The objectives of the exhibition were:
- To promote locally produced goods and services;
- To encourage new services and product launches;
- To generate sales for participating businesses;
- To generate potential leads/prospects for businesses, particularly MSMEs;
- To provide trade-related information related to importation and exportation to stakeholders; and
- To contribute to economic diversification across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
During the exhibition, the Department of Trade launched its Made in TCI 2022 Exhibitors’ Brochure, which contains general and contact information for all the exhibitors as well as the government departments that participated. This Brochure can be accessed from the Department of Trade’s website: www.gov.tc/trade or can be accessed by scanning the QR code of the attached Made in TCI logo.
Apart from the exhibition, there were several other activities that formed part of Made in TCI 2022. A Panel Discussion Segment entitled “Giants are Made in TCI” was held as part of the morning session. In this segment, three (3) local entrepreneurs who have attained high levels of success in their respective ventures shared their experiences and advice. These “Giants” were Mr. Lewellyn Handfield, Chief Executive, Lew 1 Inter Island Shipping Ltd.; Mrs. Yvette Marcelin-Seymour, Equity Partner and Senior Attorney, Twa Marcelin Wolf; and Mr. Walter Gardiner Jr., Co-Owner, Broker, Regency Christie’s International Real Estate.
In addition, there was a "Pitch Me!" Competition. This competition was geared towards encouraging start-ups and MSMEs interested in business expansion to pitch their developmental plans to seasoned business owners and industry leaders. In total, 19 individuals/companies signed up to participate in Pitch Me! However, on the day of the event, 5 short-listed competitors pitched their business plans to the following judges: Mrs. Angela Musgrove of Invest TCI, Mr. Stan Hartling of the Hartling Group, Ms. Dorika Talbot of the Inland Revenue Department and Mr. Ronald Saunders of the TCI Chamber of Commerce.
The winner of the Pitch Me! Competition was Ms. Cherline Dabel of Aunty Nann’s Homemade Delights in Grand Turk, who won $5,000 towards market expansion plans with a vision of becoming the leading provider of homemade ice cream in the TCI. The first runner-up was Mr. Dekkel Simmons of Auntie P’s Homemade Collection, who won $2,500 towards market expansion plans for his local confectionery business that is linked to treats from the island of Salt Cay. The second runner-up was Mr. Jago Moore of Moore Spices, who won $1,000 to produce an all-natural spice blend of salts, herbs, and spices from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Furthermore, a singing competition known as “Singers are Made in TCI Too” was held to encourage participation from individuals in the creative industry. Six (6) contestants entered the competition with the hopes of winning a cash prize of $1000 and a 12-hour studio recording session at Paradise Beachfront Production Studios. The judges of this competition were: Mr. AJ Alexander Parhm, Mr. Andy "DJ Shakes" Williams, and Mr. Gregston Been. As more and more individuals engage in the creative industry, it is important to recognize and unearth this growing potential as they may lead to increased trade in services.
The winner of the “Singers are Made in TCI Too” Competition was Ms. Chrystal “Tess” Charles, who performed a medley made up of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”. The first runner-up was Ms. Eashur Parker, who performed an original rap song called “That Girl”, and the second runner up was Ms. Brusnite Jean-Louis, who performed a song called “Scars”.
The Department of Trade anticipates that “Made in TCI” will be an annual event where individuals and businesses gather to showcase the range of entrepreneurial talent and creativity that exists throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is hoped that the event will encourage and propel innovation, hence the use of the slogan: “Made in TCI…where Luxury Meets Innovation”.
Made in TCI Photo Highlights can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/3fjJQCw