SVGCSI holds workshop for Services providers

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coalition of Services Industries (SVGCSI) in collaboration the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs, convened a week of activities for Services providers from August 15 to 19, 2011, under the theme “The Role of a Services Coalition in Exporting Services”.{{more}}

The objectives of the week of activities were to increase the awareness of services providers on the following: The Role of the SVGCSI; Securing Success in Services Exporting; Running an Effective Services Association; SVGCSI and the Public-Private Sector Relationship.

The Workshops were facilitated by Michelle Hustler, Service Development Consultant with the German International Development Agency (GIZ), Barbados.

On Monday, August 15, 2011, Hustler met with the Permanent Secretary Andreas Wickham and Senior Trade Officials to discuss the objectives of the Week and the expectations. An Agency for Pubic Information (API) presentation was also recorded.

On Tuesday, August 16, 2011, Hustler met with the Private sector. The participants present at the Workshop comprised of the SVG Medical Association, SVG Bar Association, SVG Institute of Architects, SVG Pharmaceutical Association, SVG Hotel and Tourism Association, an Accountant, Eastern Caribbean Collection Organization for Music Right (ECCO) , the SVG Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Invest SVG, Regional and Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU), Board Members of the SVGCSI and Ministry Officials. The Coalition partners had the opportunity to strengthen networks at a Cocktail at the Mariners Hotel on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, August 17, 2011, the discussions were geared towards sensitizing the public officials on the role of a Service Coalition vis-a-vis the Public Sector.

From August 18 to 19, a small team comprising of consultant, trade officials and CSI Board members began developing the SVGCSI website, Facebook page, a services database and action document.

A release from the SVGCSI and the Ministry thanked Hustler and the GIZ for making the week a reality, Gibriel Bah, Trade Policy Analyst, Hub and Spokes Project, Commonwealth, the Board of the SVGCSI, the participants, the Agency for Public Information (API), and other persons who made their contributions to the success of these activities.