Minister with responsibility for Commerce, International Trade, Enterprise Development, Investment, and Consumer Affairs, Bradley Felix, has lauded TEPA, organizers, and supporting businesses, for what he described as a monumental undertaking.
The four-day Specialty Caribbean Expo 2017 ended on Sunday at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium at Beausejour, providing an opportunity to view a representative sample of the goods and services on offer in the OECS from over 100 exhibitors.
Felix said while the internet has made an undeniable impact, direct interface should not be discounted, as the Specialty Caribbean Expo formed part of an effective strategy for achieving the private sector-led growth of national and regional economies.
He said: “I noted that we have also managed to secure the participation of a sizeable contingent of buyers and trade delegates from regional and international markets, and trading partners from around the world, including the US, UK, mainland Europe, the wider Caribbean region including Cuba, and other Latin American countries. It must be clear however, that the benefits from this undertaking will not be all immediate. Therefore, its success cannot be judged simply on the sales and transactions made here but instead should be assessed against the future supplies and sales, knowledge transfer, or spill over, as well as new clients and other business relations between our exhibitors and regional and international markets in the medium and long term.”
Minister Felix added that trade exhibitions such as the Specialty Caribbean Expo, have the potential to spur greater levels of trade and investment, which is crucial to economic growth in Saint Lucia, and the rest of the OECS.