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Castries, February 28^th, 2017; The Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs will be hosting the 2^nd National Forum on Doing Business in Saint Lucia on Thursday, March 16^th, 2017 at the New Financial Centre, Pointe Seraphine, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. under the theme, "Improving Efficiency in the Business Environment."

The main objectives of the National Forum are to take stock of our successes and challenges in reforming the business environment in Saint Lucia and identify the measures that will receive priority attention as we restructure the economy to become more competitive.

Some of the areas in which great emphasis will be given at the National Forum include:

1.    E-Filing and E-Payment Project - This involves making online payments/e-payments

 and filing of taxes online.

2.     Introduction of an electronic process to improve the efficiency of the Land Registry

3.    Introduction of a Single Window Initiative to address the inefficiencies in the area

 of Trading Across Boarders.

Having ranked number 86 in 2016 in the World Bank's "Ease of Doing Business Report" the Department in collaboration with the Private Sector continues to work assiduously to improve the business environment to make it better to do Business in Saint Lucia.

Given the importance of reforming the business environment in Saint Lucia, Cabinet has appointed a three member Ministerial Sub-Committee comprising of Hon. Bradly Felix, Minister in the Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs, Hon. Dominic Fedee, Minister with responsibility for Tourism and Hon. Guy Joseph, Minister responsibility for Economic Development to oversee the Doing Business Agenda in Saint Lucia. The sub-committee may choose to include other Ministries as and when necessary.

The National Forum creates the environment where all stakeholders can meet to address the issues and impediments that retard the investment process in the economy. It is anticipated that through such national dialogue mechanisms, Saint Lucia's ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Report will improve and it will become easier to do business in Saint Lucia.

For further information, please contact the Permanent Secretary Mr. Leo Titus Preville at 468-4203 orOR Ms. Aretha Regis at 468-4265 .