The main objective of the Workshop was to examine and discuss ways of improving the enabling environment for trade and business in Dominica and the OECS in general. 

At the conclusion of the consultation participants were better informed of the national issues affecting Trade and Business in Dominica. A plan of action stemming from the recommendations will be developed and implemented by the various agencies and institutions to augment the trade and business environment. Participants were further sensitized on the various external trade Agreements Dominica was partied to such as the Economic Partnership Agreement, the WTO the various CARICOM Bi-lateral Agreements as they relate to trade and business facilitation, and the approaches to be taken by Dominican traders to take advantage of these Agreements. The need for a functioning Market Intelligence System in order to enhance the trade and business environment was also discussed.

Participants at the Consultation were drawn from the private sector including producers, exporters, importers, traders, distributors and Labor Unions as well as the public sector. They all expressed satisfaction with the quality of the presentations, the high level of the discussions and their commitment to improving Dominica’s standing in the global environment for doing business.

The consultation was addressed by the Director Trade of Dominica, the Regional Trade Advisor for OECS Hub and Spokes Project – Mr. Allan Paul, The Executive Director of the OECS-EDU – Mr. Collin Bully, the Comptroller of Customs, OECS-EDU’s Market Intelligence Systems Expert the General Manager of the Dominica Air and Seaports Authority, the Registrar of Companies I the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Invest Dominica Authority, the Vice President of the DAIC, Board Member of the DAIC and Managing Director of J Astaphan and Company Limited, The Dominica Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Agriculture and the Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA).  Thirty-five persons attended the day-and-a-half event

This was the first of six National Consultations on Trade and Business Facilitation that will be conducted in each of the independent OECS member Countries.  The exercise is a collaborative effort between the OECS-EDU, the Hub and Spokes Project, the Ministry of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce in each participating OECS country.