The Caribbean Community Caricom Secretariat has commended the OECS Secretariat’s Export Development Unit for its recent “Best of the OECS” Exhibition.

The OECS EDU activity showcased products and services of over fifty leading companies in the OECS at a grand trade fair in Basseterre.OECS Heads and Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis officially open the Best of the OECS Trade Expo. The Best of the OECS Trade Expo was one of the highlights of OECS 25th anniversary activities. Assistant Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat Irwin Laroque identified the OECS exhibition as a fitting window to demonstrate the competitive quality of the OECS Business Sector.

“I think we need to commend the OECS Export Development Unit for putting together this exhibition and more importantly to commend the OECS Private Sector, who by demonstration of their goods and services is showing that the OECS can in fact produce quality products.”Speaking the OECS News Link, Laroque remarked that such activities will further encourage a culture of appreciation for the quality and competitive standard of OECS goods and services within the context of the pending Caricom Single Market and Economy.

“..It’s unfortunate that sometimes we throw our hands up in despair and say we will never be able to compete. There are in the OECS producers of goods and producers of services that are in fact exporting further a-field, not just within the OECS. Our musicians (artistes) when they travel and do a concert are exporting a service. We have manufacturers here who are exporting to the United States. I am not saying it’s easy. It’s a challenge but the best are here and they are a demonstra5ion of what can be done for the upcoming entrepreneurs. I think we should not just say it cannot happen. We need to look at the challenges and see how we address them.”

The OECS Trade Fair featured several areas such as Services and Entertainment, Wood and Furniture, Agri- Business, Food and Business, Herbal Products, Light Manufacturing, Lining and Garment. Debra Blackman, (seated) Head of Financeof the OECS Export Development Unit describes the Best of the OECS Trade Expo as a worthwhile venture.

“I think it was worth it. We brought together some fifty-six companies representing the best of the OECS and although the public viewing was not as much as we expected, the sales and contracts that were signed and negotiated have surpassed our expectations.”On the first day exhibitors said they concluded more business that they thought they would have. Along with the Besides the Best of the OECS Trade Show, the OECS EDU facilitated a Trade and Business Seminar for the exhibitors. The security, preparedness of and potential for OECS Business operations in a Caricom Single Market and Economy were among the hot issues discussed at the seminar. The Best of the OECS Trade Expo was hosted at the Marriot Hotel in Basseterre.