The OECS Export Development Unit (OECSEDU) is working towards enhancing efforts by the sub-region’s private sector in product promotion and distribution.

For this reason the OECS EDU has appointed a market intelligence consultant in Andrew Satney through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance. Satney was once a Senior Economic affairs officer at the OECS Economic Affairs Division.

Colin Bully, Director of the OECSEDU explains that Satney’s appointment is part of his institutions effort to access further investment and strategic partners to advance product promotion and distribution:“Having for the past five years facilitated manufacturing companies in developing their capacity to be more efficient in their export operations, the OECS Export Development Unit is convinced that the institutions they serve in the OECS Private Sector are now at the level where we can lookm more deeply at market access issues. The market access issues will be developed around the platform of Market Intelligence and Market research.”-Bully 

Satney has worked in market intelligence before, when he was employed in the Agriculture Diversification Coordinating Unit which eventually transformed into the OECS EDU. Bully states that Satney’s experience will lend significant guidance on organizing the system.

Satney who is initially on a two year contract says the approach is to set up a system that will present timely relevant and easy to understand information about markets, products and the environment in which OECS manufacturers operate and export as well as regional and international market access and developments on the world market stage:“To be successful you have to think global all the times because of: the removal of various restrictions, the fact that member countries are joining multi-lateral trading systems, they are forming economic partnership agreements and several other issues in the global trading arena.”

The pending Caricom Single Market and Economy CSME, has also influenced the need for OECS manufacturers to constantly enhance their market potential as well as utilize the available opportunities. To this end the OECEDU will be helping companies access the CSME markets. More than fifty percent of OECS trade is in the Caribbean region. Other influential factors include the various Trade Policies, the Economic developments in different countries, the fact that large companies in the Caribbean are merging and the challenges and opportunities placed before them: “The OECSEDU is now paying attention to these issues and analyzing information generated: “It’s important that one pays attention to issues that can affect their operations directly or indirectly. The EDU has recognised that and the fact that the human resource capacity of several of our manufacturers are small operations, we are doing a lot of the market intelligence for them. In so doing we are helping them to source credible, relevant and timely information.”

The Manufacturers will be able to source such information via a portal at the OECSEDU, as well as contact points in the OECS such as the Ministries of Commerce and Trade.

The OECS Export Development Unit has identified potential in the OECS for growth in the professional services sector. and is therefore looking at expanding its operations with specific interest in meeting increased demands for professional services: “We are looking at ways of strengthening our professional services in the region to help increase exports; the take advantage of the expanding global demand for such services.” -Satney

The most frequently demanded professions across the globe are in Management, Education, Healthcare and Law, Construction, ICT, Entertainment and Tourism.

The Market Research procedure includes analyzing the demand, the information needed, the form in which the information is used, and the human resource capacity of the manufacturer to use the information. This will help determine the best system for the manufacturing and other private sector agencies. In some cases a cost is required to obtain market information.

Officials believe that two years will be adequate to make significant strides in market intelligence for OECS manufacturers. In phase one the market intelligence will be set up and in phase two the system will be made operational and relevant. After identifying the requirements and the approach the system should be established by December 2007.  Satney says clients have been approaching the OECSExport Development Unit for assitance in setting up the market intelligence system.