EPA Sensitisation Seminar ends on high note!!
By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com
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| Samuel Berridge, Trade and Policy Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A two-day Economic Partnership Agreement [EPA] Sensitisation Seminar held at the Ocean Terrace Inn Conference Room was declared a success and plans are in train for the hosting of a similar workshop to deal with business and trade facilitation.
The Seminar, held on April 21-22, was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, in collaboration with the OECS Secretariat, and financed by the Commonwealth Hub and Spokes Project.
The special event was attended by a number of government officials and members of the private sector, particularly those involve in the trading of goods [manufacturers and importers].
A number of officials had contributed towards the success of the Seminar, and among them were the Regional Trade Policy Advisor, OECS Secretariat, Allan Paul; St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador to South Korea, Japan and the Republic of China on Taiwan, Errol Maynard, who, at the opening ceremony, welcomed the participants and address them on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Minister.
The aim of the Seminar was to sensitise the local stakeholders on the scope, context and outcome of the EPA negotiations between the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the European Community (EC).
According to Samuel Berridge, Trade and Policy Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a very high degree of success was achieved.
“The EPA Sensitisation Seminar can be characterised as a success. Over the past two days we were able to discuss matters related to the Economic Partnership Agreement - negotiations which took place between the European Commission and members of CARIFORUM. I must hasten to explain that CARIFORUM is comprised of CARICOM member states and the Dominican Republic.
“The main purpose of the Seminar was to sensitise government agencies and members of the private sector to the various provisions involved in trading in the goods sector,” Berridge said.
He however declared that the workshop did not deal with trading services but, for the first time since it was initialed in December last, they were able to dissect the Agreement and examine the various provisions.
“We also looked at the different levels of market access for agricultural products, for manufactured goods and, most importantly, the rules of origin, which was a most interesting exercise that took place this morning.
“In this exercise, we looked at the rules that pertain to manufacturing, because it’s important if you are going to access the market under the Free Trade Agreement you have to abide by the rules. You have to use certain products of certain origin and you have to ensure the integrity of the Free Trade arrangement,” Berridge explained.
~~Adz:Left~~ He added that in order for one to capitalise and access the market, it is important for one [a manufacturer or exporter] to abide by the rules that govern the trade.
The Trade and Policy Officer is convinced that most of the participants benefitted greatly from the Seminar and “based on the questions and discussions which took place, I can say that most, if not all, of the issues were addressed.”
“I must also hasten to say that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will continue its public awareness drive with a view of ensuring all stakeholders in the community are kept abreast with the different elements of the Economic Partnership Agreement,” Berridge said.
One of the participants, Colin Mallalieu, Industrialist and outgoing Honorary Consul to Norway, also claimed that the Seminar was a success and declared it was a learning experience for him.
“This conference has presented to us views on subjects of which we did not have full knowledge. It presented all the knowledge we needed. It was a first class seminar…very well done and well organised! I now have a lot more knowledge of the EPA before I came here,” Mallalieu said.
Berridge declared that a similar workshop would be hosted next week by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would deal with business and trade facilitation, and all interested stakeholders are invited to participate.
