ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada--Trade and Economic Development Minister Oliver Joseph is calling on the business community to take full advantage of the investment opportunities existing in the region and in Europe.
He says Government has been working tirelessly to create market access for local entrepreneurs and businesses should not let the benefits go unclaimed.
“So we have the EPA [Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe – Ed.], the CARICOM [Caribbean Community – Ed.] Single Market and Economy and all the trade agreements . . . What the private sector needs to do is to ensure market presence. So we negotiate for you, but you have to ensure that the goods reach there,” he said.
“The Government does not sell any goods. In the EPA you have access to the European market under certain conditions. You must be able to take full advantage of all the trade agreements to sell your products.”
The Trade Minister also urged the business community to get a better understanding of the EPA and foster trade with Europe, especially the United Kingdom.
“There are great opportunities for Grenada, and we have these traditional ties with the UK and Grenada and they can get a lot of our products. The problem is not a shortage of markets, the problem is that we have a supply side constraint . . . And the marketing board is doing an extremely good job in that area of getting farmers to sell their products and they can fulfil it in the UK market.”
Grenada was among 14 countries that signed the EPA back in October 2008.
The purpose of the agreement is to make it easier for people and businesses from the two regions to invest in and trade with each other. ~ Caribbean360 ~
