Presentation by Frank Ward - Chairperson 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. DIVERSITY - 13 ACP Caribbean Countries, 18
companies, numerous excellent brands

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.