Government officials assert timeliness of implementation of national export development strategy
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Contact: Adhara King
Monday, March 16, 2009 – Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce Titus Preville, said the inclusion of the Office of Private Sector Relations in implementing a European Union (EU) funded National Export Development Strategy, has delivered much needed momentum.
The National Export Development Strategy will provide the country with a plan to survive and remain competitive in an era of free trade.
Saint Lucia’s economy, Mr. Preville said, is an export oriented one that is private sector led.
“So as the ministry responsible for private sector development, it became blatantly obvious to us that we need to focus our attention on how we get the private sector integrated into the national economy in a sustainable and managed manner; this led to the former Permanent Secretary, Ben Emmanuel, teaming up with the Chamber of Commerce to explore that possibility further, when they went to Switzerland,” Preville said.
The idea for a national export strategy, Mr. Preville said, was developed with assistance from the International Trade Centre, at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
“The export strategy was developed and completed about 2005. What has kept us back is the implementation model—how best to implement it. And we have been seeking assistance because the public sector resources are limited,” said Preville.
Mr. Preville said the rigorous guidelines for selection of a consultant contributed to the delay in implementation.
He said members of the private sector have anxiously awaited this occasion, and said everything points to further liberalisation of the markets. |
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