St. Kitts and Nevis now has ‘almost zero-tariff access’ to Brazilian market

Brazil’s Special Envoy, His Excellency Ruy Pereira, Mrs. Periera; St.Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas; Brazil’s Brazil’s Resident Ambassador, His Excellency Miguel Magalhaes and Nevis’ Minister of Communications, the Hon. Robelto Hector during the playing of the National Anthems at the start of the ceremony.

BASSETERRE, ST.KITTS, MAY 11TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has declared the twin-island Federation “now the only Caribbean country with almost zero-tariff access to the Brazilian market.”

“Manufacturers currently based in St. Kitts and Nevis, therefore, or those who move here will now, by definition, have an advantage vis-à-vis their competitors where access to the Brazilian market. And this enhanced attractiveness of St. Kitts and Nevis as a manufacturing base will, in turn, mean additional employment, additional entrepreneurial opportunities, and increased revenue inflows for our Federation,” said Prime Minister at Friday’s signing ceremony of the Brazil-Guyana-St. Kitts and Nevis Partial Scope Agreement.

Dr. Douglas pointed out that as Brazilian consumers and businesspersons seek to make wise choices regarding the expenditure of their resources, products made in St. Kitts and Nevis will now be amongst those from which they will be able to choose.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister said the in-depth and lengthy negotiations between Brazil and St. Kitts and Nevis regarding the Partial Scope Agreement have been a resounding success.

Brazil’s Special Envoy, His Excellency Ruy Pereira (left) and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Trade, Mr. Charleton Edwards sign the agreement at the Embassy of Brazil in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

“This historic moment began, of course, with just an idea. A hope. A vision. An idea, a hope, and a vision in which the objective was clear, but the path, at first, less than a straight line. As is the case with all historic accomplishments, however, this initial idea soon gave way to meticulous planning, in-depth analysis, and careful cost/benefit deliberations as we strove to establish this mutually beneficial economic alliance – an alliance that will redound to the benefit of both St. Kitts-Nevis and Brazil in the form of enhanced trade, expanded entrepreneurial and employment opportunities, and a wider array of goods and services for both nations’ peoples,” said Prime Minister Douglas during the ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Brazil in Basseterre.

Dr. Douglas pointed out that although St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest nation in the entire western hemisphere, and one of the smallest in the entire world, “our commitment to excellence, however, is also an indelible part of who and what we are, and this aspect of our national character has been demonstrated time and again.”

“As a result, to give just one example, we have repeatedly secured and held the lead position throughout the Eastern Caribbean – plus Barbados – where the export of manufactured products to the United States is concerned. This is the type of competitiveness on which we intend to build via this Partial Scope Agreement,” the Prime Minister said.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas addressing the ceremony.

He added that the economic vision of St. Kitts and Nevis is grounded in a commitment to economic diversification and this is evident in the varied policies and initiatives to expand and make more competitive the agricultural, tourism, financial services and manufacturing sectors.

“St. Kitts and Nevis will, indeed, become even more competitive – where manufacturing is concerned – as a result of the Partial Scope Agreement that will be signed today,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who praised the “very constructive, visionary, and thorough the Government of Brazil, through its negotiators, have been throughout.”

The Agreement was signed by Brazil’s Special Envoy, His Excellency Ruy Pereira and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Trade, Mr. Charleton Edwards.

Addresses were also delivered by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of International Trade, Senior Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Brazil’s Resident Ambassador, His Excellency Miguel Magalhaes and Ambassador Pereira and was attended by several government officials and private sector representatives.