The 17th Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show ended on a high note on Sunday, November 3, 2024, following three days of robust showcasing of goods and services and networking by Saint Lucian and Taiwanese businesses.
This year, 65 Saint Lucian businesses and 14 Taiwanese businesses participated in the trade show, offering patrons a wide range of goods and services to choose from, including water purification systems, multi-purpose cleaners, mildew remover gels, innovative machine learning technologies for big data analysis, fashion clothing and jewellery, soaps and other detergents, handbags, leather shoes and slippers, pepper sauces, wines, bread, salad dressings, body lotions, ice cream, rums, and furniture.
Three Taiwanese companies participated in person at this year’s trade show – Hydrosep, Sparkamplify, and St. Pioneer – showcasing their iconic products, including liquid filtration, AI and social selling, and water filters.
The official opening ceremony for this year’s trade show was held at The Pavilion on the Ramp in Rodney Bay on Thursday evening, October 31, 2024. In his remarks, H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, explained that participants were carefully selected by the Ministry of Commerce and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to present their highest quality offerings to potential local and international buyers.
Over the years, Ambassador Chen said, the trade show has evolved and developed, offering businesses a prime avenue for creating awareness about their goods and services and the chance to network. With over 100 companies applying to participate in this year’s trade show, he said the event had become more competitive than ever, reflecting the ambition and growth potential of Saint Lucia’s small and medium-sized enterprises.
Ambassador Chen thanked Hon. Emma Hippolyte and her team at the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, particularly Director Mr. Esli Lafeuillee and Mrs. Merlicia Williams-Davy, for their support in making this year’s event a reality.
“With the support of Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Minister Hippolyte, and all the Cabinet Ministers present today, I believe the 17th Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show will serve as a catalyst for stronger economic ties, deeper friendship, and continued progress between our two countries,” said Ambassador Chen.
This year’s trade show was held under the theme, “Innovate, Integrate, Inspire — Shaping the Future of Business”. Hon. Emma Hippolyte, Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, said the theme was apt and timely as the trade show was held at the beginning of Business Month. She noted that the partnership between Saint Lucia and Taiwan continues to ensure that Saint Lucia remains competitive in many areas, including trade.
“This year’s trade show celebrates what can now be described as an endearing collaboration between our two great nations, Taiwan and Saint Lucia,” Hon. Hippolyte stated. “Saint Lucia has benefited from skills transfers and targeted development support that augur well for our long-term development and ambition. So, too, our Taiwanese counterparts have benefited on the international stage as Saint Lucia has embraced Taiwan and has remained a strong diplomatic ally. This mutual integration of ideas and ideology is the glue that binds our countries.”
Hon. Hippolyte said Taiwan has been an ardent supporter of many Government programmes, including the Youth Economy Agency, MSME Loan-Grant Facility, and the Community Tourism Project — all of which have resulted in the creation of new entrepreneurs and businesses.
“I am confident that the creativity and innovation on display at this year’s trade show will help light a spark among our aspiring entrepreneurs,” Hon. Hippolyte said. “Moreover, I am certain that our slate of activities scheduled for this year’s Business Month will further ignite the flames.”
Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy, and Minister for Justice and National Security, was the featured speaker at the official opening ceremony. He urged entrepreneurs to always think about the global marketplace when they create goods and services.
“We live in a society where it cannot be that we’re producing for Saint Lucia or even CARICOM; we have to be globally minded,” Hon. Pierre advised. “We have to think of producing the best products that can compete with products anywhere in the world. I believe we have the talent, I believe we have the discipline, and I believe we have the commitment to produce goods and services that can match anywhere in the world. But we must make use of the opportunity we have.”
Hon. Pierre said all business-people need to familiarize themselves with the Credit Reporting Act, the Security Interest in Movable Property Act, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act. These pieces of legislation, he said, can offer entrepreneurs crucial guidance in their business journey. He also encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), noting that the technology offers many benefits, including business opportunities. Networking with each other, he added, is a prime opportunity they should embrace while plying their trade at the trade show. Hon. Pierre also announced that the Government will continue to invest in young entrepreneurs.
“I am excited by the young people, not only because of their talents and the way they are integrating into society and the technology but also the business ideas they have,” he said. “The Youth Economy is an example of that. I want to announce that at the next Budget, the Government will invest more heavily in the Youth Economy and small and medium-sized enterprises.”
The opening ceremony was interspersed with musical performances by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band, Chazz Desrivieres, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College students, and YUNISN, as well as a cultural performance by Sparkle Legends Dance Group.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and Hon. Emma Hippolyte joined Ambassador Peter Chen for the ribbon-cutting ceremony which was followed by Sly, the 2024 Groovy Soca Monarch, bringing the curtains down with a performance of his season hit, “Damn Proud Lucian”. A tour of the booths followed, with interactive engagements with the exhibitors.
Other guests included Hon. Alva Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs; Hon. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Minister for the Public Service, Labour and Gender Relations; Attorney General Leslie Mondesir; Mrs. Sophia Alfay-Henry, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs; Mr. Esli Lafeuillee, Director of Commerce & Industry Unit; Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS Commission; H.E. Francis Etienne, Ambassador of France to Saint Lucia, among others.
Over the three days of the trade show, notable events were held, including renowned Chef Orlando demonstrating his culinary skills using ingredients from the Taiwan Technical Mission’s demonstration farm. On Friday, an AI Forum was held at Bay Gardens Beach Resorts under the theme, “From Personalization to Productivity — Harness AI Potential for Global Success”. Karaoke and a fashion show were also among this year’s highlights as this year’s trade show ended on a successful note last Sunday evening.
The Taiwan Image Area became a highlight of the trade show with its high-quality products and innovative technologies, attracting numerous visitors and inquiries from local businesses, and effectively facilitating bilateral business opportunities. According to Taiwan’s customs statistics, Taiwan’s trade volume with Saint Lucia reached US$1.273 million in 2023. We look forward to more bilateral trade to promote development for the well-being of both countries.
SOURCE: Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia