TEPA Newsletter – September 2014
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First Meeting of TEPA’S
National Export Council (NEC)
NEC Council Meeting
The National Export Council (NEC) of the Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday September 9, 2014 at Hewanorra House, Pointe Seraphine. The NEC consists of a cross-section of private and public sector stakeholders and is chaired by Mr. Ronald Ramjattan, President of the Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association (SMA). This is a critical step in the operations and sustainability of the TEPA. As the lead agency mandated to spearhead the island’s National Export Development effort, TEPA… Read More…
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TEPA and CEDA present 2nd Module in PRONET Training Workshop
Kevin Jones Addresses ProNET Participants
The Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) in collaboration with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) will be offering the second of three (3) modules, Cost and Financial Management from the PRONET Training Programme to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and other interested persons. This training workshop will be held on October 14th-16th at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Read More…
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Customs Brokers and Customs Clerks get refresher course on Harmonised System of Classification
The Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) through its Export Facilitation work programme component provided assistance to the Saint Lucia Customs Brokers Association through an initiative geared toward building the capacity of customs brokers and customs clerks in Vieux Fort and its environs. Read More…
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Fashion & Apparel Seminar
In August 2014, TEPA attended a seminar entitled “Apparel Industry and Economic Development in the Caribbean: Efficient Planning and Allocation of Resources” in Barbados under the auspices of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) and Sistema Económico Latinoamericano y del Caribe (SELA). Read More…
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Saint Lucian Products and Services Showcased at GIC 2014
Saint Lucian Products received raving interest at the recently concluded Groceries Innovation Canada which took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto on September 29 and 30, 2014. Products of over five Saint Lucian enterprises were part of a combined booth themed “Satisfy your Senses.” Read More…
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Stephen Einhorn visits Alcina Nolley of Court Yard Art Studio
In September 2014, TEPA in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board UK Office facilitated a visit with Stephen Einhorn (www.stepheneinhorn.co.uk) a well-established London Jeweler and Alcina Nolley of Court Yard Art Studio. Alcina’s handcrafted silver jewelry is being promoted and marketed under the TEPA’s “Taste of Saint Lucia” campaign in the United Kingdom. Read More…[/column]
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Wildlife Art by Saint Lucian Artist and Environmentalist Christopher Cox
Through collaboration with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board UK Office, Wildlife Art by Saint Lucian Artist and Environmentalist Dr. Christopher Cox was featured at the recently concluded British Birdwatching Fair (Birdfair). The Birdfair held Friday August 15 to Sunday 17 August 2014 at Rutland Water Nature Reserve in Rutland. Read More…[/column]
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TEPA meets with UK Diaspora
On Friday August 8, 2014 TEPA met with key members of the UK Diaspora to discuss its recently launched “Taste of Saint Lucia’ Campaign at the High Commission of Saint Lucia in London. In attendance were members of the following Associations and Groupings: St. Lucia Ambulance Projects, Anse La Raye Association… Read More…
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Upcoming Events
Trade Missions
TEPA is inviting exporting companies to indicate their interest to participate in the following Out bound Business Trade Missions:
- OECS Trade Mission:
This mission will focus on exploring business opportunities in: Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts /Nevis
- Guyana Trade Mission
- French Guiana (Cayenne) Mission.
- Northern Caribbean Trade Mission – October 12 – 18, 2014
- FIHAV 2014 Havana International fair November 2 – 8, 2014
Regional/International News
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Trade Relations between the Caribbean and China are Strengthened
The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) supported a contingent of representatives from four (4) of the Region’s Business Support Organisations (BSOs) to participate in the 8th China LAC Business Summit that was held in Changsha, China between September 12-13, 2014.
Read more…
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Better Deal Now for Exporters
In an effort to give local exporters a better price on shipping, the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (Plipdeco) launched a new initiative on Wednesday. Using logistics (management of materials from one point to another) the Less Than Container Load (LCL) Export Initiative was launched together with the opening of a refurbished warehouse that will be used for the venture. Read More…
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New Coconut Oil Joins Cocozia Organic Product Line!
Epicurex, importer and distributer of organic coconut water Cocozia, is launching a premium coconut oil available soon at select retailers. “The coconuts that make up our new 100 percent organic Cocozia coconut oil come directly from organic plantations in the Philippines,” says Paul Kilbride, vice president of sales, “so our customers can be confident that our coconut oil is not only great for their health,…” Read More…
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ASK Anthony
Anthony John, Project Office, Saint Lucia TEPA
What are Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures? Does the SPS Agreement cover countries’ measures to protect the environment? Consumer interests? Animal welfare?
For the purposes of the SPS Agreement, Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures are defined as any measures applied:
• to protect human or animal life from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or disease-causing organisms in their food;
• to protect human life from plant- or animal-carried diseases;
• to protect animal or plant life from pests, diseases, or disease-causing organisms;
• to prevent or limit other damage to a country from the entry, establishment or spread of pests
These include sanitary and phytosanitary measures taken to protect the health of fish and wild fauna, as well as of forests and wild flora.
Measures for environmental protection (other than as defined above), to protect consumer interests, or for the welfare of animals are not covered by the SPS Agreement. These concerns, however, are addressed by other WTO agreements (i.e. the TBT Agreement or Article XX of GATT 1994).
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Did You Know…
- The phrase “Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)” refers to the use of the domestic regulatory process as a means of protecting domestic producers.
The Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) Agreement seeks to assure that Mandatory product regulation; Voluntary product standards; and Conformity assessment procedures do not become unnecessary obstacles to international trade and are not employed to obstruct trade.
- The Food (Export) Health Certificate is issued to traders, to certify a food consignment as fit for human consumption, and meeting safety standards or other required criteria to facilitate the export of this food consignment. This certificate is only issued for food consignments manufactured or processed or packed in a food processing establishment.
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Saint Lucia Export Statistics
