Private sector stakeholders trained

A three-day workshop designed to train and sensitize private sector stakeholders in key areas of export development and competitiveness in the external market came to an end today.{{more}}

The event, the first of two organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the Brussels based ACP/MTS Project Management Unit, aimed to equip service providers with the knowledge and skills to assess and exploit new and existing opportunities, as well as address the issues of standards and regulations that affect trade and services, and improve linkages in the service, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Over the three days, the participants, who gathered at the National Insurance Services training room in Kingstown, covered areas such as preparing their businesses for the market, conducting market research, developing a marketing plan and entering the market.

A number of round table discussions also took place over the three day period.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs Andreas Wickham, speaking at the opening of the workshop on Wednesday, February 29, pointed out that the participants, who included individuals from the entertainment, broadcast, health and wellness, information, communication technology sectors, were to be exposed to the latest information available in relation to the export of services.

“… and will identify and explore the opportunities and of course the challenges of exporting services in the market both regionally and internationally.”

“We have to position ourselves, and jointly as a country take full advantage of the opportunities that are available through the several trade and development agreements to which the country is signatory.”

The sessions were conducted by Ramesh Chaitoo, an international trade policy and negotiations expert, founder and president of Global Links Network Diane Girard, and trade lawyer and director the WTI Advisors Ltd Hannes Schloemann.