Trade Saint Lucia, an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, was launched yesterday.
The initiative combines the efforts of the Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA), and the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) with an aim to enhance business support services to the business sector.
“The creation of Trade Saint Lucia is part of a wider structuring effort of the Ministry of Commerce as we continually seek to improve our services to the local commercial sector, thereby providing an ecosystem that will enhance Saint Lucia’s international competitiveness,” Minister for Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, the Hon. Emma Hippolyte said.
“The SBDC with its core strength of capacity-building, long term consultations and startup assistance; and TEPA’s strength and focus in market intelligence, trade facilitation and export strategy; together under one roof, is the perfect union to lead Saint Lucia to economic prosperity.”
Barbara Innocent Charles, SBDC Director, spoke on the importance of micro-enterprises and the youth.
“The economy is such that we need to harness the capabilities of our people in Saint Lucia. We need to get our youth to realize their dreams, to tap into their skills and to contribute to this economy.”
Cabinet approved the creation of Trade Saint Lucia on March 21, with the entity coming into effect April. Trade Saint Lucia was created as a statutory body drawing on established resources.
