BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jun 14, CMC – Barbados is sending a 15-member trade mission to St. Vincent and the Grenadines later this month as it seeks to further strengthen its position within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) market.
The mission from June 25-28 is being spearheaded by the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC), working in collaboration with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Hotel and Tourism Association.
The visit to St. Vincent follows a successful multi-sectoral mission to St. Lucia and Grenada last year and the organisers said that it forms part of the BIDC’s plans to broaden Barbados’ export base within the Caribbean and Latin America.
“The mission is part of a major effort to consolidate and grow Barbadian exports within the region. CARICOM represents a market where quick gains can be realised from new and traditional export products and is at the same time, an ideal entry point for first-time exporters to become immersed in conducting international business,” said BIDC Director of Export Development and Promotion, Sonja Trotman.
The trade mission will comprise of representatives from the condiments; confectionary; apparel and accessories; botanicals; jewellery; gift and decorative accessories’ sectors. Representatives from the Barbados Manufacturers Association (BMA) and the Barbados Private Sector Trade Team (BPSTT), have joined the BIDC as strategic partners, and will also be a part of the delegation.
Preliminary figures by the Barbados Statistical Service show that the island exported approximately BDS$198.6 million (US$99.3 million) in goods to CARICOM countries during 2010, a decline of 3.26 per cent from the previous year.
Trinidad and Tobago remained this island’s main regional export partner, followed by St. Lucia and Jamaica. Exports to St. Vincent estimated at BDS$20.6 million (US$10.3 million) , were up 7.3 per cent in 2011 when compared with exports in 2010.
