00:00The Chamber says St. Lucia's position within CARICOM and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States,
00:07along with its stable business environment, makes it a strategic gateway for Trinidad and Tobago companies
00:14seeking growth across the wider Caribbean.
00:16Trade and Business Development Manager at the Chamber, Mark Sandy, notes
00:21that Caribbean markets such as St. Lucia remain highly import-oriented,
00:26creating strong openings for Trinidad and Tobago businesses.
00:31And as a Chamber, we have a very strong membership that is extremely diverse
00:36and possesses exporters both in the product, manufacturing, distribution and the services sectors.
00:43And so with respect to St. Lucia and given its import dependence as well as its very strong tourism population,
00:50we do believe that the market remains open and vibrant for exporters
00:55that are looking for opportunities to expand into that space.
00:58He adds that the mission goes beyond trade, focusing as well on strengthening bilateral relationships
01:05and positioning local service industries for regional growth.
01:09It's not just about seeking to export and, you know, expand in that arena,
01:16but also looking for opportunities for partnerships, joint ventures, investment opportunities as well,
01:22and also opportunities for buying because we are mindful that St. Lucia has a very strong and stable economy,
01:32would have exporters who may be interested in selling their finished products to companies in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:40Sandy tells the Morning Edition that this country also has a very attractive and strong food and beverage sector.
01:49Our food and beverage sector remains very strong, not just food and beverage manufacturing,
01:55but also food and beverage services companies.
01:58We, of course, have a very strong construction sector.
02:03We have a very strong household products industry as well, residential and industrial chemical products as well.
02:11And to speak about services, we do have a very vibrant digital and financial services industry.
02:20Sandy says the Chamber's trade missions continue to deliver tangible results,
02:26pointing to a strong track record of partnerships and expansion opportunities for participating companies.
02:34Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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