Members of the sub-region’s Yachting, Marine and Tourism Sectors have formed the OECS Marine Trades Forum.

The Forum is to facilitate discussion at the sub-regional level on the continued development of the yachting sector. Matters related to the provisioning of yachts, securing of funds, creating an OECS single space for the development of investor incentive packages and clearance protocols are also among the issues to be handled by the newly launched OECS Marine Trades Forum.

The OECS Marine Trades Forum will also address the enhancement of linkages between yachting and tourism as well as to help ensure the OECS yachting sector is officially represented as an accredited and strategic body at levels such as the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers and the OECS Authority. The OECS Marine Trades Forum was one of the most important outcomes at a meeting in Antigua and Barbuda to assess the sub-region’s participation at the Grand Pavois Boat Show in La Rochelle France, where the OECS was the 10th territory to be accorded the status of Guest of Honour. The boat show was held from September 7th to 12th 2005.

Also at the review a document entitled “Business opportunities derived from participation in Grand Pavois” was discussed with provisioning to charter boats by sub-regional suppliers being one of the main prospects. The meeting heard that SWITCH one of the largest catamaran charter companies in France, has agreed to purchase provisions from OECS producers whenever they sail the sub-region. This is perceived as a tremendous business opportunity. SWITCH has agreed in principle to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the OECS Secretariat for a yearly advance payment of customs and immigration fees.The OECS Secretariat has also commenced plans to deal with the issue of transshipment of agricultural produce within the sub region while maintaining accepted quality standards for the produce being shipped.

The meeting revealed that the University of La Rochelle is planning to have final year students of the Masters of Tourism Studies programme complete a three month internship at hotels and other companies in Grenada.  For Montserrat contact was initiated at the boat show with a company seeking to use volcanic ash for construction purposes. A catamaran manufacturing company Fountaine Pajot is to celebrate its 30th anniversary in St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines in November 2006. Approximately 80 catamarans with over 300 persons including media personnel are expected to participate in this event.

At the review meeting, Director General of the OECS Secretariat, Dr. Len Ishmael stressed the importance of the yachting sector to OECS economies. The inclusion of the development of the yachting sector as part of the overall tourism advancement plans in Member States and the need to maintain the sub-region’s competitiveness in the sector were emphasized as well.

Stakeholders felt that it was important for the OECS to be represented as a group at the Grand Pavois Boat Show in 2006 as well as other boating events according to their strategic interests A video is being produced by the OECS Secretariat to provide a record of the OECS at the Grand Pavois boat show as well as to help increase awareness of and to stimulate interest in jobs within the yachting sector. 

The Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE), Cable & Wireless, St. Lucia Electricity Services, LIAT, Rodney Bay Marina of St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda’s Falmouth Harbour Marina were the principal sponsors of the OECS participation at the Grand Pavois Boat Show in France. Discussions are ongoing regarding the CDE’s partnership with the OECS in such an event. Further, the OECS Secretariat has commenced discussions with CDE for possible assistance in the music, film, health and wellness sectors. 

The review meeting urged the OECS Secretariat to continue preparations for the staging of the 2006-2007 OECS Rally. The OECS Secretariat is also working with the Regional Council of Martinique to develop a statistical database for the yachting sector.