Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Honourable Shereen Flax-Charles is currently attending the Fourth Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Ministers: Trade in Antigua today. 

The Junior Minister will engage in discussions in the area of strengthening OECS trade policy coordination through Establishing National and OECS Trade Policy Committees. This also includes discussion on developing a private sector trade facilitation and engagement strategy.  

Honourable Flax-Charles said, “This meeting comes at a most appropriate time in which the Virgin Islands is progressing towards developing our trade regime. This is evident in the development of the National Trade Policy framework from, which the Virgin Islands Trade Commission Act was established.” 

While at the meeting, Honourable Flax-Charles will also take the opportunity to make contributions to discussion on operationalising the OECS Customs Union and the free circulation of goods through harmonising the policy, legislative, regulatory and institutional framework. 

She will also participate in discussion on trade for development including strategies for enhancing trade competitiveness and improving OECS trade and transport logistics, among other areas. 

In referring to the many discussions she is participating in today, the Junior Minister added, “Key to this, is the establishment of The Virgin Islands Trade Commission, which is responsible for trade and economic development. It is evident from these various initiatives, that the Virgin Islands is well on its way towards achieving a key component of the mandate set forth by the OECS, for its members, in order to strengthen trade policy coordination." 

She is accompanied by Ms. Lizette George, Policy Analyst/Strategic Adviser in the Premier’s Office. 

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an international organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The BVI is currently an Associate Member of the OECS.