The mission comprises representatives of the CSME Unit and CARICAD which will meet with the National Coordinating Committee in Dominica under the auspices of the CIDA funded CSME Trade and Competitiveness Project. This Project seeks to streamline procedures and facilitate increased participation of stakeholders in the implementation of the CSME.

The OECS Secretariat is an implementing partner for the Project and has responsibility for activities in the OECS Member States. During the mission the main report that will be discussed is “The harmonization and Standardisation of Administrative Rules and Procedures”. The Committee’s comments will be used to finalise the report.

Meanwhile, trade policy implementation in the OECS continues to get support from the Hubs and Spokes project.  This project, set up in 2005, promotes the effective participation of OECS Member States in international trade negotiations (such as the WTO) and re-enforces their capacity to formulate and implement trade policies consistent with their overall development strategies.

The Project has finalized its Work Programme and Budget for July – December 2009.The process involved consultations with the Director of the Economic Affairs Division of the Secretariat Mr. Randy Cato,  and the Trade Policy and Regional Integration Units to ensure that the Project’s Work Programme and Budget reflect and provide for the following activities which are of priority interest to the Secretariat in its delivery of support to the Member States:

1. OECS Economic Union – Development of a Framework for Establishment of an OECS regime for free circulation of goods.
2. Trade Policy Implementation in relation to the (a) CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and (b) CSME
3. Trade Negotiations in relation to the WTO and the Impending CARICOM-Canada negotiations