BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS. As the 13th annual Caribbean Gift and Craft Show (CGCS) came to an end at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, exhibitors and buyers were leaving pleased with the new business opportunities the show generated over its four day run from September 14th - 17th.
In his feature address at the Opening Ceremony, the Hon Sam Condor, Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, indicated that the show provided a platform for the "Creative expression of a group of people, with unique artistic skills, who apply their talents to the production of material goods, which reflect their culture and heritage," and the show did not disappoint in this regard.
190 exhibitors, 78 of whom were first time participants, from the wider Caribbean including the Dutch, French and Spanish speaking countries participated in the show, where they displayed their wide range of products to the 266 trade buyers from the region and beyond who were in attendance.
In keeping with the show's theme 'Excellence through Creativity, Innovation and Strategic Linkages" new and original product offerings and ingenious booths displays were significant features of CGCS 2006, as exhibitors were eagerly vying for the FirstCaribbean International Bank Best of Show Awards.
Other added attractions of the show were the Business Seminar "Protecting your Creative Intellectual Property Assets" and the Caribbean Fashion Rhythms runway presentation "Creative Explosions".
The winners of the Best of Show awards sponsored by FirstCaribbean International Bank were:
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Outrémer Autrement of Guadeloupe which was honoured for its singular packaging of sugar and rum products in the Outstanding Creative Packaging Category;
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Caribbean Creative of Dominica emerged victorious in the Best-Handcrafted Product Category for its range of bamboo lighting products;
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~~Adz:Right~~Island Dolls Plus Collection of Jamaica captured the imagination of the judges with its creative use of colours and fabrics to display its stunning line of souvenir and World Cup Cricket 2007 line of dolls in the Best Booth Display Category;
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Luna Design of Barbados won the Best New Product/Product Line - Gift And Craft Category for its new line of men's and women's jewellery, featuring seeds set in silver and gold carvings;
~~Adz:Left~~The Caribbean Gift and Craft Show is an annual production of the Barbadian based Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export). The show has been previously held in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada and St. Marteen.
The 2007 show will be held September 27-30 at the World Trade Centre in Curacao.
