CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Jun 12, CMC – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission says Antigua and Barbuda will host a specialised services sector training programme as the sub-region countries seek to strengthen their resilience and competitiveness in global services markets, particularly in the face of ongoing economic challenges and the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commission said that the June 29 to July 2, event forms part of a regional consultancy titled “Technical Support to OECS Independent Protocol Member for Specialized Training to Strengthen and Enhance Knowledge Capacity, Policymaking and Negotiating Skills of Public and Private Sector Stakeholders in the Services Sector.”
The programme is being implemented under the framework of the OECS grouping the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Commission said that the initiative supports the objectives of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, which established the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (ECEU) and promotes deeper economic integration, policy harmonisation, and the development of a single economic space.
“The programme comes at a critical time as OECS member states seek to strengthen their resilience and competitiveness in global services markets, particularly in the face of ongoing economic challenges and the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Commission said, adding it is designed to strengthen the technical competencies of trade officials and public sector policymakers, business support organisations and private sector stakeholders in the services industry.
It said participants will benefit from a series of activities, including development of a specialized services sector training plan tailored to national needs, a national training workshop to build practical policy and negotiation skills as well as trade in services obligations and addressing barriers to services trade market intelligence tools for services development.
The Commission said that the training will be delivered in a hybrid format to ensure broad participation from public and private sector stakeholders.
“This initiative enables member states to better leverage trade agreements, modernise regulatory frameworks, and enhance competitiveness in global services markets. By strengthening institutional capacity and improving policy coherence, the programme aims to support sustainable economic growth, resilience, and increased participation in regional and international trade,” the Commission added.
CMC/ah/ir/2026