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OECS-Chamber of Commerce of Martinique Joint Media Release

Thursday, March 5, 2020 — Designer Kimya Glasgow successfully launched her signature fragrance last month in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with the support of the INTERREG Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean (TEECA) project, which is coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Martinique (CCI Martinique) along with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export).

Kimya Glasgow’s talent has been consistently recognized in the fashion industry both regionally and internationally. Over the last ten years, Glasgow showcased her collections at several fashion weeks and fashion shows in Miami, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and most recently in Martinique. 

Since 2014, Glasgow has also been a major participant and beneficiary of several of the OECS Competitive Business Unit (OECS CBU) programme interventions, and technical assistance programmes in the fashion and design sub-sector, especially under the ‘Regional Integration for Trade’ programme funded by the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).  

The Vincentian entrepreneur has now taken her craft to the next level by launching her signature fragrance ‘Vanilla Orchid’ last month, as a result of the partnership concluded with Parfums des îles, a popular perfume brand in Martinique.

At the fragrance launch, Glasgow said she was honoured to collaborate with the Martinique-based company noting that Kimya Glasgow Designs is now the first fashion house that has its own signature fragrance in the entire Caribbean.

Both companies benefitted from technical assistance under the INTERREG TEECA project, which seeks to increase reciprocal trade between Martinique and the English-speaking OECS countries, as well as to foster trade between OECS Member States and joint exploration of global market opportunities. The INTERREG TEECA project currently supports 29 companies from the English-speaking OECS and Martinique to access markets by reducing technical, language and cultural barriers that inhibit intraregional trade.

The Vincentian fashion designer also announced her intention to create more fragrances in the future. 
 

About the INTERREG TEECA project

The Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean (TEECA) project is co-funded by INTERREG Caraïbes and led by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Martinique (CCIM), in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export), and the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique (CTM). 

The INTERREG TEECA project was launched in 2018. The programme aims to accelerate trade within OECS Member States by providing assistance to companies based in Martinique and the English-speaking countries of the OECS which wish to access to other markets. The INTERREG TEECA project fosters forging win-win partnerships within the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the region. Hence, 29 companies which were selected at the end of the call for projects are currently benefiting from a two-year tailor-made support programme to enable the export of their products and services to other markets.

This programme also aims to promote entrepreneurship among young people in the OECS Member States through the TECCA Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

About INTERREG CARAIBES Programme 2014-2020

Coordinated by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe as the Managing Authority, INTERREG Caraïbes is a European Union programme which enables the French and European territories of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Saint-Martin, to undertake actions that foster cooperation with neighbouring countries of the Greater Caribbean. More than 35 countries from an area that encompasses Mexico in the north, to Venezuela in the south, are included among the potential partners of INTERREG-funded projects.

Photo courtesy: Kimya Glasgow Designs and Search Flight.