🎓 FREE COURSE | 4 WEEKS | SELF-PACED
Understand CARICOM trade basics, import/export fundamentals, and regional market opportunities. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners ready to think beyond local markets.
⏱ 4 weeks of content
💻 100% Online & Self-Paced
📜 Certificate of Completion Included
🌍 Caribbean-Focused Curriculum
👥 Community Access Included
4 Weeks
Total Duration
Beginner
No Experience Needed
Self-Paced
Learn on Your Schedule
Free
Forever Free Access
Why Understanding Trade is Your Competitive Advantage
In the Caribbean, we often think small—serving our local market, relying on tourism seasons, waiting for opportunities to come to us. But what if you could access markets across the region? What if you could import materials at better prices, or export your products to Trinidad, Jamaica, or beyond?
The reality: CARICOM represents a market of over 18 million people with a combined GDP of billions. Yet most Caribbean entrepreneurs never tap into this opportunity because trade seems complicated, bureaucratic, or “not for people like us.”
This course changes that.
Over 4 weeks, you’ll demystify regional trade, understand the rules that govern it, and discover practical ways to apply this knowledge to your business—whether you’re selling spices, crafts, professional services, or agricultural products.
By the end, you won’t just understand trade—you’ll see pathways to grow your business that you never knew existed.
This Course Is Perfect For:
Aspiring Importers/Exporters
You have a product idea or existing goods, and you want to source materials from across the region or sell beyond your island. You need to understand the basics before investing money.
Small Business Owners
You run a retail shop, restaurant, or service business and want to reduce costs by sourcing regionally, or expand your customer base to other Caribbean markets.
🌱 Farmers & Producers
You grow or make something valuable and want to access regional markets but don’t know where to start with certifications, documentation, or logistics.
Course Curriculum: 4 Weeks to Trade Confidence
✓ What is CARICOM and why does it matter for your business?
✓ The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) explained simply
✓ Key trade agreements: CSME, EPA, and bilateral arrangements
✓ Which countries can you trade with easily?
✓ Understanding “Rules of Origin” – what qualifies as Caribbean-made?
✓ Practical Exercise: Map your product’s eligibility for preferential trade
Week 2: Import Fundamentals – Bringing Goods Into Your Country
Duration: 3 hours of content
✓ Step-by-step import process from start to finish
✓ Finding reliable regional suppliers
✓ Understanding HS Codes (Harmonized System) for product classification
✓ Calculating landed cost: product + shipping + duties + taxes
✓ Required documentation: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading
✓ Working with customs brokers vs. DIY clearance
✓ Practical Exercise: Calculate the true cost of importing a sample product
Week 4: Overcoming Barriers & Taking Action
Duration: 2.5 hours of content
✓ Common trade barriers and how to navigate them
✓ Accessing trade finance and payment solutions
✓ Understanding regional payment systems
✓ Building relationships with regional buyers/suppliers
✓ Digital tools for trade: e-Customs, trade portals, marketplaces
✓ Your 90-day action plan: From learning to doing
✓ Practical Exercise: Draft your first trade inquiry or supplier outreach email
Total Course Content:
📹 video lessons
📄 downloadable templates & checklists
Community discussion prompts
1 final action plan worksheet
📜 Certificate of Completion
What’s Included in This Free Course
✓ Downloadable Resources
Practical templates including import cost calculators, supplier evaluation forms, and export checklists you can use immediately.
✓ Community Forum Access
Connect with other Caribbean entrepreneurs, ask questions, share experiences, and find potential trade partners.
✓ Mobile-Friendly Learning
Watch lessons on your phone or tablet. Learn during your commute, lunch break, or evening downtime.
✓ Real Caribbean Case Studies
Learn from actual examples of Caribbean businesses successfully trading regionally—not generic theory from textbooks.
✓ Expert Instruction
Content developed by professionals with hands-on experience in Caribbean trade, customs, and regional business development.
✓ Certificate of Completion
Receive a digital certificate to showcase on LinkedIn or use in business proposals to demonstrate your trade knowledge.
✓ Pathway to Advanced Learning
This course is your foundation. Graduates get priority access to Term 2 courses on Sustainable Trade and Value Addition.
The Caribbean Trade Opportunity Is Real—And It’s Yours for the Taking
Did you know that intra-CARICOM trade is worth over $2 billion annually? Yet most of this flows between the larger economies—Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados—while smaller islands like Dominica, St. Vincent, and Grenada remain underrepresented.
This isn’t because there’s no demand. It’s because entrepreneurs like you haven’t had accessible education on HOW to participate.
When you understand trade:
- You can source better-quality materials at lower costs
- You can access markets 5-10x larger than your domestic market
- You can build resilience by diversifying beyond tourism-dependent income
- You can position yourself as a regional player, not just a local vendor
This course removes the mystery. No jargon without explanation. No assumptions about prior knowledge. Just clear, practical guidance rooted in Caribbean reality.
Quick Facts:
$2B+
Annual intra-CARICOM trade value
18M
People in the CARICOM market
15
Member states you can trade with
100%
This course is free—no barriers to entry
Your Transformation: From Uncertainty to Trade Confidence
BEFORE THIS COURSE
❌ Trade feels complicated and bureaucratic
❌ You don’t know where to start with imports/exports
❌ Fear of making costly mistakes holds you back
❌ You’re limited to your local market
❌ Suppliers seem inaccessible
DURING THIS COURSE
Week 1: Understand the CARICOM framework
📚 Week 2: Master import processes and documentation
📚 Week 3: Learn export strategies and requirements
📚 Week 4: Create your personalized action plan
💬 Weekly community check-ins for support
Download templates as you go
AFTER COMPLETION
✅ You can confidently research regional suppliers
✅ You understand documentation requirements
✅ You can calculate true landed costs
✅ You have a clear 90-day action plan
✅ You’re connected to a community of traders
✅ You’re ready to take your first trade step
Continue Your Journey: Recommended Next Courses
Term 1: Introduction to Sustainable Trade
$87 one-time
Deepen your knowledge with fair trade principles, sustainable sourcing, and ethical supply chains. Build on the fundamentals you learned here. 5 weeks | Self-paced
Term 1: Introduction to Value Addition in Agriculture
$97 one-time
Transform raw produce into profitable products. Perfect if you’re a farmer or food producer ready to export processed goods. 6 weeks | Self-paced
Most Popular Pathway
Term 1: Business Communication & Professional Writing
$87 one-time
Master the emails, proposals, and negotiations you’ll need when dealing with regional suppliers and buyers. 5 weeks | Self-paced
💡 Complete the Trade & Export Specialist Pathway and save 15% when you bundle these courses together.
Frequently Asked Questions
No! This course is designed for complete beginners. Whether you’re just starting to think about trade or you’ve been in business for years but never explored regional markets, you’ll find value here. We start with the basics and build from there.
This course focuses specifically on CARICOM regional trade because that’s the most accessible starting point for Caribbean entrepreneurs. However, the principles you learn (documentation, logistics, costing) apply globally. For advanced international trade, we recommend Term 2 masterclasses.
Yes, it’s completely free—no hidden fees, no trial periods, no credit card required. We offer this as part of our mission to democratize trade knowledge in the Caribbean. If you choose to pursue paid Term 2 or Term 3 courses later, that’s optional.
Ready to Think Beyond Borders?
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🎓 Founding Cohort 2026: Enroll by July 31, 2026 to receive lifetime course updates and priority access to Term 2 trade courses
Horizon Bridge Academy 