A twenty-eight member OECS delegation begin leaving this weekend for the French city of La Rochelle to represent the sub-region at the Grand Pavois  – one of the world’s three biggest boat shows.

OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael told a press briefing Wednesday, the participants include craftsmen, owners of micro-enterprises, operators of yacht charter companies and marinas, artistes, and tourism officials among others.

They will showcase the sub-region’s goods and services in an OECS pavilion, covering an area of 7000 square feet. Booths with distinctive Caribbean designs and vibrant colours have been created for the various member states.

Dr. Ishmael says more than 3000 kilos of promotional material from the nine OECS Member States  are being taken to France. Apart from tourism and yachting material, the shipment also includes carnival costumes, national dresses, agro-products and arts and craft. Antigua/Barbuda will include in their display framed photos of West Indies batting legend Sir Viv Richards accompanying a cricket bat and ball.

At the media conference the Director General said the Grand Pavois Boat show offers significant investment opportunities for the sub-region’s yachting business and the wider tourism sector. The event is also expected to lead to increased yachting arrivals to the region and boost revenue earning for the sector.

The Grand Pavois Boat show has been in existence for the past 30 years. An average 600 exhibitors participate in the event, attracting more than 100,000 visitors, two-thirds of  whom are sailors seeking new destinations to visit.

The OECS are the special Guest of  Honour at the 2005 event which runs from September 7th to 12th.  The OECS comprises Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/ Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON THIS WEBSITE FOR UPDATES ON THE OECS PARTICIPATION AS THE GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE GRAND PAVOIS BOAT SHOW IN FRANCE.

For further information please contact:

Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Raymond O’Keiffe Comm.Officer OECS Secretariat email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it