Caribbean workshop explores ways of enhancing services exports in the region

ZIZ News…Dec. 02, 2010 – A workshop to boost exports in the services sector in the Caribbean region started on 30 November in St Kitts and Nevis.

Drawing participants from 12 Commonwealth Caribbean countries, the three-day workshop aims to share good practices, challenges and lessons in exporting services, other than tourism from the region.

“We are looking at current issues and priorities in promoting of services, and map out strategies for ensuring that member countries are competitive in the market,” said Ms Estella Aryada, a trade advisor at the Commonwealth Secretariat—who is managing the program.

The workshop is jointly organised by the Trade Section of the Commonwealth and the St Kitts Ministry of International trade,Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Ms Aryada noted that the impact of the recession and financial crisis in the leading target export markets for Caribbean professional services, among other developments calls for a re-examination of the ability of the region to remain competitive in a tight market, and come out with better strategies for improvement.

Over the past five years, the Commonwealth Secretariat has supported a number of its member states, including those in the Caribbean region to formulate strategies to develop export of professional services, such as education, IT, health, business services, among others.

The meeting will be attended by officials involved in trade in services government, business support organisations, trade promotion organisations and business leaders.

Regional bodies such as the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the Organisation of East Caribbean States will also be present.

Participants are coming from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Grenada. Other will be from Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.