BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ANOTHER avenue will be opened to the manufacturing sector in St. Kitts-Nevis through the approval of a “partial scope agreement” which will provide access to the Brazilian market for goods manufactured within the Federation.
Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, who also holds responsibility for Finance, made the announcement during the Tuesday, April 25, 2012 edition of his radio programme ‘Ask the PM’.
He said the move became necessary after growing trends pointed to and manifested in downturns in the US and other economies which have “been having a cooling effect on our economy in general”.
Conversely however, he noted that countries including Brazil and India have shown more economic promise.
Owing to this reality, the government of St. Kitts-Nevis began the process of negotiating with the Brazilians to open the door for electronic items or parts manufactured in St. Kitts and Nevis to have access to the Brazilian market.
“And so we decided that one of the best ways to do this would be to successfully negotiate access to the Brazilian market for goods manufactured here in our own Federation. So we took the initiative and entered into negotiations with the Brazilians.
“The negotiations were long and difficult and trying but we persevered. And I have just received word that Brazil has indeed approved a partial scope agreement with St. Kitts and Nevis which means, again, that goods manufactured here will now have access to that…market known as Brazil.”
Prime Minister Douglas indicated that within days the partial-scope agreement would be signed by representatives from both Brazil and St. Kitts-Nevis.
Dr. Douglas told media representatives during his press conference on April 25, 2012 that this development is a most welcomed one which would widen the scope of the local manufacturing sector and would possibly create more employment opportunities.
