Current Projects

Project: Technical assistance to the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia to develop Business Facilitation and Investment Promotion Web sites.
Agency/Counterpart: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

Overview

C-TRADECOM is providing technical assistance to the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia to facilitate their interaction with businesses and potential investors using Internet technologies. The program focuses on strengthening the ability of the governments to service customers online as well as leveraging Internet technology to attract new international and regional investment.

In executing the project, C-TRADECOM is collaborating with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a World Bank affiliate. There is also close cooperation with national agencies such as the Antigua and Barbuda Industrial Development Board, the Dominica National Development Corporation, the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation and the St. Lucia National Development Corporation.

In each of the participating countries, this project will involve the design of functional and technical aspects of the new Internet presence, the development of web site content, setup and marketing of the site and training of agency staff to manage and maintain the sites.

Background

With the significant growth of the Internet, governments and businesses have been able to achieve significant increases in efficiency by placing the information needed by various stakeholders and clients on the World Wide Web. Many have been able to use the Internet to automate processes which had been hitherto done manually and in so doing have further increased their efficiency, reducing both the coast and time involved in these processes.

The Countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have committed themselves to improving their business environments and enhancing their attractiveness as investment locations. An important element in achieving these objectives is the creation of E-Government Portals/Investment Promotion Web sites that would facilitate the dissemination of information to businesses and potential investors and permit the downloading and submission of such documents as applications and licensing forms.