<P> Whilst all members of the CSME contributing to the CDF are eligible to receive financial and technical assistance support from the fund, only the designated disadvantaged countries - the LDCs (OECS and Belize) and Guyana (as a Highly Indebted Poor Country) will have access to resources during the first contribution cycle which runs from 2008 to 2014 . To identify the needs of the eligible member states and to inform the CDF Board as it signed off on governance rules and regulations, needs assessment consultations were undertaken to the LDCs and Guyana . </P> <P> Informed by these consultations and consistent with its remit to address disparities resulting from the implementation of the CSME, the CDF will focus on disbursing concessionary loans and grants that address objectives related to the implementation of the CSME, preferably small - to - medium size projects of a short implementation period . The details of the criteria for project selection can be found in the CDF Appraisal and Disbursement guidelines on www.csmeonline.org . </P> <P> In an attempt to guarantee the sustainability of the CDF capital fund, the size of direct loans will range between US $500,000 and US $4 million; the minimum size of grants will be US $20,000 . In each contribution cycle, the board will earmark up to US $10 million to finance private sector projects that are regional or sub-regional in scope . The CDF will also look to work with its development partners in leveraging the technical assistance it can provide . </P> <P> Article 239 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas obliges Member States to "elaborate a Protocol relating...to...Government Procurement ." </P>

Reasons why caricom countries may benefit from purchasing from one another