The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines says it will continue to provide opportunities and create the space necessary to demonstrate its commitment to being “a business government”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble emphasised the government’s policy at the opening ceremony of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Specialised National Services Sector Training Workshops in Kingstown.
“I can assure you that you have our full support,” Bramble said at the opening ceremony of the workshop, which ran from Monday to Tuesday.
“We also encourage your feedback, as governments do not trade; it is individuals, organisations and businesses that do. Your input is therefore critical to ensuring that we continue to provide the support you need,” the minister said.
Delores Francis of the OECS Commission also emphasised the importance of the initiative, saying the workshop forms part of the OECS Commission’s continued commitment to supporting its member states through capacity building, practical tools, and the enhancement of the technical skills of trade policy professionals, services sector officials, business support organisations, service suppliers, and other key stakeholders.
“This investment is critical, as it equips participants to confidently navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of international trade in services. It also enables them to better understand and utilise the commitments negotiated on their behalf under trade agreements, and, more importantly, to translate the commitments of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre into meaningful commercial opportunities,” Francis said.
During the four-day workshop, participants engaged in a series of interactive and practical sessions facilitated by Audel Cunningham, a consultant provided by the OECS Commission.
The sessions explored a range of topics, including trade in services within the OECS and CARICOM, regulatory reform, international trade in services policy, services negotiations, services statistics and classification, World Trade Organisation (WTO) disciplines on domestic regulation, and e-commerce and digital trade.
The workshop concluded on Thursday with a sensitisation session focusing on market intelligence for the services sector and the concept of servicification of manufacturing.
The OECS Specialised National Services Sector Training Workshops formed part of the OECS Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance the competitiveness of the services sector across member states.
The ministry said it remains committed to working with regional and international partners to build national capacity, promote services-led growth, and position St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take advantage of emerging opportunities in regional and international trade.