The training workshop is designed to increase knowledge and awareness of EPA trade guidelines.

The Ministry of External Affairs is pleased to inform of the implementation of Level 1 training under the European Union funded 10th EDF Project “Capacity Building within the CARIFORUM in the Areas of Competition Law, Public Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation in Support of the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).” 

In October 2008, Saint Lucia together with the rest of  CARICOM Member States, the Dominican Republic and the European Community, signed the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), more commonly known as the CARIFORUM-EU EPA.  The EPA is a trade and development agreement that replaced the preferential arrangements that existed under the Lome Conventions.  The EPA trading arrangement provides for the immediate duty-free and quota-free entry of goods from Saint Lucia into the markets of the European Union Member States.  In contrast, Saint Lucia has been granted a period of 25 years within which to eliminate the customs duties on imports of goods from the European Union markets.  

Public Procurement is about how public authorities spend public money when buying goods, works or services. This can range from buying IT equipment or providing water, gas and electricity to building a hospital or a road.  The rules on Public Procurement are contained in Chapter Three of the EPA. 

The one-day Level 1 training workshop in the area of Public Procurement will be held on March 17 at the Royal Conference Room, Royal by Rex Resorts. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Facilitator is Mr. Richard Panton of the International Procurement Institute (INPRI), Jamaica.

This training workshop is designed to raise awareness and increase knowledge in the area of Public Procurement within the context of the implementation of the EPA. In particular, participants from both the public and private sectors will acquire information and knowledge pertaining to the significance of Public Procurement to Nation-Building, Key Concepts and Guiding Principles of Public Procurement, and the International Trade Dimension of Public Procurement.