PRESS RELEASE – National Trade Facilitation Virtual Workshop September 21st – 22nd, 2021

Basseterre, St. Kitts, (Tuesday, 21st September 2021) – The Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the CARICOM Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), will be conducting a National Workshop on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) and implementation matters. This workshop will be held virtually via Zoom on September 21st – 22nd, 2021, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

The objective of the two-day workshop is to promote capacity building among the pertinent stakeholders while building awareness in efforts to advance the WTO Trade Facilitation Implementation Agenda. The workshop will also seek to increase participants’ understanding of their obligations under the TFA while highlighting its relevance to the economic growth and development within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Mrs. Jasemin Weekes, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs gave brief introductions and remarks at the first day session indicating the opening of the vital workshop.

The Presenters over the two days will include:

• National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFA)
• Ms. Helen Chang, WTO Trade Facilitation Committee
• Peter Terence Leonard, ASYCUDA Regional Project Manager for UNCTAD
• Michele Lowe- CARICOM Secretariat Office of Trade Negotiations
• Alexandre Larouche-Maltais, UNCTAD Economic Affairs Officer
• Poul Hansen, UNCTAD Chief of Trade Facilitation

Attendees from the Public Sector included the Customs and Excise Department; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources; St. Chistopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Health; Ministry of Sustainable Development; Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce, Consumer Affairs and the St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards; Trade and Consumer Affairs Department – Nevis.

The workshop was also well attended by participants from the Private Sector such as the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SKNCIC); Tropical Shipping; King Ocean Services; S. L. Horsfords & Co. Ltd.; SwiftPac St. Kitts and Nevis; S-Krave Shop & Ship; Hobson Enterprises Ltd.; Global Shipping St. Kitts, FedEx.