REGIONAL MANUFACTURERS have received a thorough outline of the business opportunities available via ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 and urged to avail themselves of "this unique moment in Caribbean history".
Addressing the bi-annual meeting of the Regional Manufacturers' Association held recently in Trinidad, ICC CWC 2007 Marketing Manager Damon Leon listed a number of avenues through which regional entrepreneurs and companies could benefit from cricket's premier tournament which will be held across nine host venues in March and April next year.
"There have been and will continue to be various open tenders, RFPs and RFQs (requests for proposals and requests for qualifi-cations) - such as the recent Central Procurement Programme RFQ and the Licensing and Merchandising (L&M) Programme - which have opened opportunities for regional businesses to become official on-site venue concessionaires, caterers, apparel manu-facturers and distribu-tors, publications provi-ders and more," he told the audience.
FINDING NICHE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
Leon also highlighted other potential business ventures, such as finding niche market opportunities which would cater to the thousands of visitors who will descend on the Caribbean for the ninth ICC Cricket World Cup - and the region's largest-ever undertaking.
"With the Indian team based in Trinidad and Tobago, and the large travelling Indian contingent of supporters who are expected to come and support the team, persons in the restaurant and hospitality industries here should be considering how they will cater to their guests, especially those Indians who follow vegetarian diets," said the marketing manager, cautioning that such zeal must be mixed with a sound entrepreneurial mindset to maximise such opportunities.
The ICC CWC 2007 official also stressed that the public must use its imagination to create attractive extra-curricular activities for the cricket-loving tourists who will be "eager to sample the lifestyle and friendly atmosphere for which the Caribbean is well known".
"What about entertainment options for those people who will be coming to the Caribbean? This is especially important for those persons who may not have match tickets and would have even more time on their hands? Who is looking into possible visitor entertainment in these areas?
Leon also gave an overview of the Anti-Infringement Programme (AIP) which will be in force for the event to uphold the contractual rights of the tournament's owners - the International Cricket Council (ICC) - its commercial partners, official licensees and broadcasters.
