In an effort to deliver on its mandate to increase direct investment into Saint Lucia, Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) in collaboration with the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Domestic Business Forum yesterday, under the theme “Investment Opportunities and Issues for Local Business.”

The forum focused on presenting investment and business opportunities to the local business community interested in either expanding their operations or investing in new initiatives.

CEO of Invest Saint Lucia, McHale Andrew, explained the rationale behind this initiative.

“This forum targets independent business persons with expressed intentions to invest, experienced and potential domestic investors identified by their respective business associations, as well as members of the local business community who may be interested in the information being presented,” he said. “It is an avenue for members of the private sector to have a direct interface with representatives of various public sector agencies and government departments, who will seek to provide information on developments and initiatives in the public sector that may impact their respective businesses,” he added.

The Domestic Business Forum took place at the Bay Gardens Hotel and featured presentations and panel discussions from the Ministries of Commerce, Business Development, Investments and Consumer Affairs; Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology; and Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Renewal as well as agencies such as Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue, the Free Zone Management Authority, the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Bankers’ Association, Invest Saint Lucia and the Saint Lucia Electricity Services Ltd.

Invest Saint Lucia anticipates that the objectives of this practical exercise will be met and that the forum will set the pace for greater collaboration between public and private sector entities.