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09th Feburary 2010
OPSR launches new programme to support the development of businesses in St. Lucia!

The Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR) today launched a new initiative aimed at benefiting the private sector of St. Lucia at all levels - Strengthening Trade through Rural Investments and Development of Entrepreneurship (STRIDE). With a concentration on small and medium enterprise(SMEs) this new programme will create significant economic impact within the communities of St. Lucia through expanded economic diversification. Funded by the European Union under the SFA 2005, the initial phase of the STRIDE programme focused on project planning and stakeholder consultations to incorporate the input of the beneficiaries within the development of the programme.
STRIDE comprises eight (8) key integrated projects that are strategically designed to generate growth and increase export of locally produced foods and services to a significant degree and in a sustainable manner and are outlined below:
1. One Constituency One Product Project –OCOP

This component focuses on developing a unique production base of goods and or services for five selected constituencies who scored high on the 2006 poverty assessment report for St. Lucia. The selection of the product and or service was based on the inherent natural and or competitive advantages of the constituency or region and the national priorities for export development stated in the Saint Lucia National Export Strategy. The five specific programmes are:
Choisuel – Arts and Craft: To make Choiseul the centre for “everything craft”. Local clay and ceramic products, straw products, Bamboo etc.
Micoud: Agro Food Processing: To establish an agro-based industry, where all products will be developed utilizing local produce. This will encompass local sweets, wines, condiments, seasonings, teas, juices, and flavoured products to name a few.
Anse La Raye: Tourism Village: Preserve the heritage of this traditional village and upgrade it as a model for attraction of visitors to the area.
Canaries: Herbal and Aromatherapy products: To produce a variety of local herbs and develop cottage industries for processing. The range of all-local products would include candles, soaps, perfumes, lotions, oils, potpourri, bath salts, sachets, teas, and herb-based drinks.

 
 

Dennery: Locally produced garments and accessories: This project will be implemented utilizing those skilled people from former garment factories within the area to manufacture customized clothing for sale locally and abroad. This will include: putting in place an on-property supplier responsible for coordinating and maintaining a steady supply of required material such as fabric, buttons, zippers, yarn and dyes.
2. The promotion of IT as a platform for the adoption to innovation by businesses
3. Implementation of a national savings and investment knowledge building project which focuses on increasing savings and investment at household, community and national levels.
4. Entrepreneurial development thrust - focuses on promoting entrepreneurship whereby more persons will be equipped to establish businesses and create employment
5. Improve the environment for business growth and development which is expected to encourage business development and improve their chances of success
6. Strengthen national trade and investment promotion infrastructure by creating markets for goods and services produced and by attracting needed investment inflows.
7. Agriculture and tourism linkage project -Through the development of an Agricultural Marketing Information System, this component will foster business linkages among the main economic sectors and increase market for local agriculture commodities
8. Promote sustainable livelihoods in poverty stricken areas
Increase participation by indigents and the poor in business activities. Indigents and poor households integrated into viable income earning activities
In the presentation of the STRIDE programme, Director of the Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR) stated that “The activities to be undertaken under this programme will cause the OPSR to work closely with firms, business associations, public sector agencies and community groups to stimulate and promote business growth at the community and national levels.
It is expected that at the end of the programme there will be increased business in rural areas, better quality of services offered by small and Micro and small enterprises, industry clusters running businesses within communities, added capacity to various businesses, an increase in ICT knowledge and usage amongst businesses and greater access to entrepreneurial training and information by the general public.
More information regarding the STRIDE programme can be obtained from the OPSR website www.opsr.org.lc or call 468-2108

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