On Monday, July 17th, the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association hosted a “Meet and Greet” event, inviting members of the business community who are interested in regional export opportunities to join in a morning of discussions with Saint Lucia’s Minister for Commerce, Honourable Emma Hippolyte and a delegation from Export Saint Lucia.
Export Saint Lucia is the Government of Saint Lucia’s Trade, Export and Promotion Agency. It is tasked with providing invaluable support services to business owners and service providers and promoting Saint Lucia’s businesses in markets around the world.
The event served as a platform to explore potential export opportunities, share best practices and begin discussions on collaboration between the agencies and, by extension, their governments.
The officials from Saint Lucia opened discussions shedding light on the pivotal role played by the Export Saint Lucia agency. They discussed their focus on product development, highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of goods originating from Saint Lucia. They also spoke of ambitious plans to expand the exportation of Saint Lucian-made products in the northern Caribbean, while also expressing their keen interest in establishing trade connections with the BVI.
Speaking about the agency’s significant impact on Saint Lucia’s economy, the delegation emphasised the remarkable success of chocolate production in Saint Lucia as an example of its strategic shift towards exporting finished products rather than raw materials.
The officials also shared a variety of Saint Lucian-made products as they discussed the importance of high-standard packaging and diversity of products.
Representatives from the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association expressed their eagerness to collaborate with Export Saint Lucia, seeking valuable assistance in creating similar success in the Territory.
The agencies discussed navigating the regulatory and legislative landscape to facilitate seamless trade between the two regions.
The discussions also touched on the critical issue of regional food security in the Caribbean and the BVI’s potential role in the regional food supply chain, as the BVICCHA shared the Territory’s hopes to strengthen self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports. Amidst the conversations, a strong consensus emerged on the need to foster local support and demand for locally made products, creating a more resilient and sustainable economy.
Diaspora Representative for Saint Lucia, Junie Fontenelle, shared her journey of exploring the possibilities for agro-processing in the BVI. Inspired by the successes witnessed in various communities in Saint Lucia, she warmly welcomed increased collaboration between the two regions.
Also present was Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr. The Honourable Karl Dawson, who drew attention to the importance of finding innovative solutions for crops like mangoes which are abundant in the BVI. Dr Dawson shared hopes of exploring avenues to prevent wastage of such crops and maximise utilisation during peak seasons.
Minister Dawson advocated for embracing new opportunities, such as poultry farming, which hold the potential to revitalize the BVI’s export market. He underscored the significance of import replacement and the dire need for an improved system of data recording to effectively track production, import, and export levels.