The OECS Secretariat is finalizing arrangements for the inaugural conference of Private Sector, Fisheries and Trade Officials of the sub-region. The unprecedented workshop for the OECS on Fisheries and Trade will be held in Castries from November 3 rd to the 4 th. It falls under the work programme of the OECS Trade Policy Project. Alicia Stephen , Programme Officer at the OECS Secretariat’s Economic Affairs Division says resource persons from the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, Commonwealth Secretariat, and the OECS Secretariat will help ensure that the inaugural Fisheries and Trade conference meets several long and short term objectives.

“This workshop is useful for the persons attending because it’s the first time the OECS Private and Public Sectors have got together to discuss trade and fisheries issues specifically. For the private sector persons it will probably be the first time they are going to be exposed to trade related matters that impact on fisheries.”

The OECS meeting in St. Lucia will inform a regional perspective of smaller economies on Fisheries and Trade issues to be tabled before the Hong Kong World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference from December 13-18.

“For the most part when capacity building is done in Fisheries it doesn’t always focus on WTO issues in Trade. Most of it has to do with Environmental Agreements, Conventions and so on. So this is the first time OECS has made concerted effort to focus on fisheries and trade issues, with the involvement of the Private Sector within that forum.”

Monday’s meeting comes after a Caricom conference in March which considered the issue of fisheries subsidies and the need for dialogue among stakeholder groups to enhance sensitization on Fisheries and Trade Issues.

“The work shop will sensitize the participants to current issues regarding Multilateral Negotiations such as the WTO as well as current negotiations with the Euroupean Union and how such issues can impact on the way we do business now”-Stephen

Among the immediate results expected from this week’s Inaugural Conference for OECS Private Sector, Trade and Fisheries Officials is to enhance the sub region’s strategic approach in trade negotiations at all levels.

Contacts:
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