Saint Lucia launches national export strategy (en)

Saint Lucia has launched a new national export strategy for 2020–2024 aimed at propelling industries in which the eastern Caribbean nation has comparative and competitive advantages into international markets – and providing meaningful development strategies for its people.

Representatives of the government of Saint Lucia, trade promotion agency Export Saint Lucia, the International Trade Centre and the CARICOM Development Fund launched the document in the capital Castries on 18 February 2020. The strategy is designed to position small and medium-sized enterprises and trade issues at the forefront of the country’s policy agenda and contains recommendations on how to foster innovation and investment – and seize market opportunities.

Described as a ‘roadmap to the growth and development of Saint Lucia’s Export portfolio’ by National Export Council Chairperson Mrs. Marguerite Desir, the strategy has been two years in the making and involved more than 250 stakeholders from the private and public sectors.

‘The strategy provides a unique window of opportunity for Saint Lucia to modernize and start a new cycle of export growth,’ Saint Lucia’s Minister for Commerce Bradely Felix said. ‘It advocates a multifaceted approach that incorporates the thoughts of relevant stakeholders from the public and private sector and builds on consensus from the entire export community about what is needed to boost the country’s export performance.’

The strategy’s vision – ‘Uniquely Saint Lucian with Global Appeal’ – expresses the expected outcome of the actions and interventions to be undertaken by the officials, under the guidance of Export Saint Lucia, geared towards increased competitiveness, diversification and environmental sustainability.

‘The strategy is an invaluable tool which will lead the way to the continued elevation of Saint Lucia as an export leader in the region,’ Export Saint Lucia CEO Sunita Daniel said. ‘Every sector, planned intervention, policy to be debated and activity to be coordinated was penned through a meticulously inclusive process that took the nation, the exporters, the buyers, the environment and all other factors affecting trade into consideration.’

The International Trade Centre was instrumental in facilitating a public-private dialogue to develop the strategy and providing expert advice and methodological support.

ITC director and Chief Economist Ms. Marion Jansen said: ‘I am delighted that ITC has accompanied Saint Lucia in setting an ambitious roadmap toward improving its business environment and transforming its export industry by fostering the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.’