What is WIRSPA?

The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association Inc.

– Founded in the 1960’s and based in Barbados

– Represents national rum associations from 13 ACP Caribbean

countries:

Antigua & Barbuda

Barbados

Belize

The Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guyana

Haiti

Jamaica

Suriname

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad & Tobago

WIRSPA VISION

– To be viewed as quality producers respecting international best practice in areas of production, environment and social responsibility.

– To see rums carrying the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque represented at the top tier of the world drinks market

– For the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque to be an authoritative, self-sustaining and enduring instrument for the benefit of the ACP Caribbean rum industry

The importance of rum to the

ACP Caribbean region

• Some 50,000 jobs are related to rum in ACP Caribbean – around 10,000 direct employees

– many in poorer rural areas

– an important employer of female labour - increased by 20% since 2003

– overall skill levels improved by training initiatives

• Island economies have little manufacturing – …but over 70% of Rum is

exported

– Rum is a strong foreign currency earner - some US$500 million pa

– Tax revenues now total around US$250 million pa – up by 40% since 2003

DIVERSITY - 13 ACP Caribbean Countries, 18

companies, numerous excellent brands

Role of WIRSPA

– To promote the development of ACP Caribbean rum as a

premium category in the international drinks market

– To represent the interests of our member associations and in

turn their member companies

– To advise CARIFORUM governments on trade policy with

respect to rum

– To promote technical collaboration and environmental best

practice.

– To promote common standards and definitions for rum.

– To promote the responsible advertising, marketing and

consumption of rum products

Trade Advocacy

CARICOM and CARIFORUM Member States negotiate trade agreements for the benefit of and on behalf of the private sector

It is therefore incumbent on industry to comprehensively brief Member

States in a timely manner on issues which the industry considers

could be detrimental to its ability to conduct business in its domestic

and export markets.

Trade Advocacy

The CARIFORUM rum industry is export driven.

The three traditional markets are Canada, the EU and the

USA.

Individual companies are also focussing on new markets in

emerging economies.

The heavy dependence on exports has driven a strategy of

monitoring governmental and commercial activity in its export markets.

This “early warning” system has proved beneficial in bringing the

concerns of the industry to the attention of CARIFORUM member

states

Trade Advocacy

The “early warning” system monitors a wide spectrum of activity.

Examples include:

– Accelerated erosion of tariffs applied on rums from third countries entering the EU market.

– Introduction or modification of regulations which may have an influence on market access.

– Unfair competition.

– WHO initiatives to curtail the advertising and sale of beverage alcohol.

– Collecting data regularly on rum exports to its main markets from all exporting countries.

Forging alliances with beverage alcohol industry groups is an

important trade advocacy activity.

Trade Advocacy

WIRSPA has representatives in the major export markets of its members

– London (European and WTO)

– Ottawa

– Washington DC

Representatives monitor and report regularly on developments which

could have an adverse impact on the CARIFORUM rum industry

to compete effectively in the marketplace.

WIRSPA has a strategic alliance with the rum industry of the French

DOM’s to collaborate on matters of mutual interest.

WIRSPA actively participates in the World Spirits Alliance.