Workshop on Micro and Small-

Sized Enterprise Development

Saint Lucia Country Report

Roycelyn St. Hill Howell

Business Development Officer

Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment

and Consumer Affairs

4th Floor Heraldine Rock Building, Waterfront

Castries Saint Lucia

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The West Indian Arc of the Windward Islands…..in the Caribbean

Saint Lucia is one of the Windward Islands a group of islands located off the southeast coast of North America.

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Country divided into

10 districts

Coat of Arms

Saint Lucia

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THE WOB

DWIYET

Country Facts

Area: total: 616.00 sq km (238 sq miles)

Capital City: Castries

National Day: December 13th

Independence Day: February 22nd

Language English (official)

Creole (Patois) evolved out of country’s colonial past being

seven times British and seven times French

Population - Saint Lucia’s total population according to 2010

census including non-resident persons = 173,720, non-resident

persons = 7,194 and resident persons =166,526 {82,926 males

83,600 females}.

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Country Facts

Life expectancy:

male: 72 years

female: 75 years

Ethnic groups: black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East

Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2010 census)

Religion - Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day

Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%,

Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%,

other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2010 census)

Government Type Parliamentary Democracy

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Country Facts

Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds;

dry season January to April, rainy season May to August

Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad

fertile valleys

Attractions

Drive-in Volcano

Twin Peaks (Petit and Gros Piton)

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Economic Background - In the 1960s,to 90s about 80% of

the island's income derived from

banana-crop exports to the United

Kingdom.

- The 1990’s the removal of market

protection and preferences by the

EU on the ACP countries led to a

reduction in agriculture’s

contribution from 13.8% in the

1980s to 4.5% in the 2000s

- Services began playing an increasing role from 53.4% in the 1980s to over 64.2 percent in the 2000s.

- Today services particularly tourism is the driver of economic activity

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Economic Figures Economy

GDP – Composition by

Sector GDP (Purchasing

power parity) US$1.789 Billion

(2010 est)

Exchange Rate

( to USD) $2.7169

Imports 1755.6 ($M)

Exports 194.4 ($M)

GDP Per capita

(PPP)

$6626.6

Unemployment

Rate

20.6% (2010 est)

GDP

Composition by

sector

Agriculture 7%

Industry 20%

Services

73%

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MINISTRY OF COMMERCE

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

INVESTMENT

AND

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

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Vision

Mission

To be an agency that delivers internationally

certified quality services for Private Sector

Development in Saint Lucia.

the International

Increase Competitiveness of Saint Lucian

Businesses whilst improving the Domestic

Business Environment and Protecting

Consumer Interest.

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Enterprise Development requires five basic elements working together

Human Capital

Financial Capital

Appropriate technology

Market Access

Government Facilitation

The elements must be delivered by funded, competent organizations

Where are We Today in Terms of

Enterprise Development ?

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Existing MSME Assistance Programs

NAME OF

ORGANISATION

SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT UNIT

(SEDU)

ESTABLISHED 1994

BRIEF DESCRIPTION A Unit within the Ministry of Commerce, Business

Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs

that provides services for the development of the

micro and small business sector

PROGRAMME (S) Access to Finance, Market and Product

Development, Entrepreneurial Development,

Advocacy, Management Advisory Service

PURPOSE

To function as a one stop shop for small business

development and the administration of the Micro

and Small-scale Enterprises Act (19 of 1998, rev

21 of 2006)

BENEFICIARIES

Micro and Small business owners and potential

owners

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NAME OF ORGANISATION

ROLE OF ORGANIZATION

Saint Lucia Chamber of

Commerce, Industry and

Agriculture

The oldest advocacy group for the private

sector in Saint Lucia (1884)

Saint Lucia Bureau of

Standards (SLBS)

Statutory Body established as the National

Standards Body through the enactment of the

Standards Act No. 14 & regulation of weights

and measures activities (1991)

Office of Private Sector

Relations / Trade Export

Promotion Agency

Work at the firm level to enhance

competitiveness Administration of the Special

Development Areas Act (1997); To provide

export advisory services and market

intelligence and analysis (2011)

St. Lucia Coalition of

Services Industries (SLCSI)

SLCSI is a national umbrella body that brings

together all service sector organizations in

Saint Lucia (2005)

Existing MSME Assistance Programs

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NAME OF ORGANISATION

ROLE OF ORGANIZATION

National Research &

Development Foundation

NGO for Micro enterprise Lending and Training

(1983)

James Belgrave Fund

(BELFund)

A quasi-government not for profit incorporated

agency for Micro enterprise Lending and

Training, Up to $20,000 Int. Rate 10.5%,

(1999)

National Skills Development

Centre (NSDC)

Gov’t owned HR org to create access to quality

training programs leading to jobs and self-

employment (2001)

Caribbean Microfinance Ltd.

(MICROFIN)

Provides loans and business services to micro

and small entrepreneurs$1,000 (min) -

$150,000 (max); Int. Rate 13 % - 24% (2002)

Saint Lucia Development

Bank (SLDB)

Financing facility to assist in providing start-up

equity for young entrepreneurs, technical

assistance, business counseling etc. (re-

established in 2009)

Existing MSME Assistance Programs

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Entrepreneurial Development training

Small and Micro business $$$$ lending

Skills Training

Export Development

Market and Product Development

Mentorship

Management Advisory Service (Counselling)

Advocacy

Business Planning

Accounting services

Services Delivered Today

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Credit Guarantee Scheme

Access to appropriate technology

Financing for Market and Product Development

Greater use of ICT in terms of: business process improvement

marketing

research

financial management

operations management

human resource management

Strategic alliances

Linkages with the education sector

Gaps in Service Delivery

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Policy

National Industrial Policy 2001

Development of the Micro and Small Enterprise Sector (1 of 6 priority areas of the Policy)

• Increased overall competitiveness

Better access to finance, business &

technical information

Up to date management techniques

Improved level of vocational skills

Export marketing assistance

Policy Framework

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Policy Framework

Strategies

Private Sector

Development Strategy

National Export

Development Strategy

Medium Term

Development Strategy

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Policy Framework: Laws

Income Tax Act

Fiscal Incentives Act

Micro and Small-scale

Enterprises Act

Shopping Hours Act

External Trade (Restricted

Imports) order

Public Health Act

Metrology Act

Special Development

Areas Act

Tourism Incentives Act

Ministry of Agriculture-Acts

Business Names

Ordinance

Companies Act

Standards Act

Consumer Credit Act

Caribbean Community

(Movement of Factors) Act

Development Incentives

Act

Liquor License Act

Physical Planning and

Development Act

Alien License Act

VAT Act

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Policy and Legislative Framework

Human Resource Infrastructure Requirements

Small size and Small Economy

(Vulnerability to external shocks)

Globalization and Influencing Global

Policy Financing

Sustainability and Environmental Issues

Regional Coordination / Cooperation

Natural Disasters

Major Advantages and Challenges

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St. Lucia Case Study

Name of CEO : Mrs. Joan Henry

Year of Establishment : 1998

Nature of Business : Manufacturer, Exporter & Supplier

Number of Employees : 11

Market Covered : Barbados, Bermuda, England & St. Maarten

Company Turnover : USD 0.5 to 1 Million

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Anse La

Verdure

MAP OF

SAINT LUCIA

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Plas Kassav Inc. is a

Canaries (Saint Lucia) based

Cassava Products Manufacturer,

Exporter and Supplier.

The company was established by Joan Henry and her children.

Joan background in the cassava making started as a young girl as part of her tradition from her Carib ancestors.

Plas Kassav started as a relatively small enterprise but in 2006 the business was refurbished and expanded to what exists today.

It started with the processing of farina, a cereal base product and also uses as a meal and two types of cassava bread- the natural coconut and the cinnamon flavor, known to Saint Lucian as the sweet type.

History

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Cassava: Raw and Processed

Cassava Root

Cassava

Farina

Now the family has developed a wide assortment of gluten free tasty cassava by-products including:

Cassava flour

Cassava pone

Cassava bread

Cassava fries

Cassareep

Cassava Muffin and

Cassava Pizza Base

Company Information

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It offers over 12 flavours of Cassava Bread

(including Apple Raisin, Banana, Chocolate, Cherry Raisin,

Cinnamon, Coconut, Salt-fish).

Cassava Flour is very fine flour, all natural organic flour and free of preservatives.

The Cassava Flour is very low on the glycemic index, which is of importance to diabetics who must limit their intake of sugar.

For people who are following a wheat-free/gluten-free diet, or have sensitivity to wheat flour or gluten-based products, our offered Cassava Flour is a great flour alternative.

Product Description

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Its current production facility includes a small café and a tour demonstration for visitors wishing to experience the process of cassava making.

The business is easily visible and accessible to all commuters of the West coast road particularly visitors to the tourist town of Soufriere.

Infrastructure

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Plas Kassav Inc. pays keen attention to

product consistency, innovation, and taste,

so our customers can get the best gluten

free products to replace their gluten diet.

Its products are 100% cassava, all natural,

and free from additives, preservatives,

Wheat and Gluten.

Quality Promise

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Contact Person: Mr. Rosario Wilson

Address : Anse-La-Verdure, Canaries, Saint Lucia

Phone : +758-459-4050

Fax : +758-459-4767

Mobile : +758-7234521

Email Address : plaskassav@yahoo.com

Alternate Email ID : zur_distribution@yahoo.com

Web Page : http://www.exportersindia.com/plas-kassav-inc/

Affordable St. Lucia -- Plas Kassav | Caribbean Travel + Life: www.youtube.com

Plas Kassav Inc. - Contact Details

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