Business development in St Lucia, particularly in rural communities on the island, is set to get a major boost as the Office of Private Sector Relations, (OPSR) steps into high gear with their just launched STRIDE program.

STRIDE is the acronym for Strengthening Trade through Rural Investments and Development of Entrepreneurship. With a concentration on small and medium enterprise, the new program is expected to create significant economic impact within the communities of St Lucia through expanded economic diversification. Funded by the European Union under the SFA 2005, the initial phase of STRIDE focused on project planning and stakeholder consultations.

The launch of STRIDE was held at the Royal St Lucian hotel on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 and saw the attendance of St Lucia’s Prime Minister Stephenson King and Minister of Commerce, Tessa Mangal, among other attendees.

OPSR’s Director, Jacqueline Emmanuel engaged invited guests with a power point presentation in an attempt to uncover the real meaning of STRIDE. Emmanuel’s presentation explained that the main objective of the program was to expand economic diversification, stimulate growth, strengthen SMEs, enhance competitiveness of the ICT sector, strengthen linkages among key economic sectors and entrepreneurship development.

The program consisted of eight key components, the core of which was OCOP, One Constituency One Product. IT as a platform for innovation, national savings and investment, entrepreneurial development thrust, strengthening trade and investment promotion infrastructure, agriculture and tourism linkages, promoting sustainable livelihoods in poverty stricken areas and improved business environment, formed the other seven components.

Five communities have already been identified for implementation of STRIDE program: Canaries, Choiseul, Micoud, Dennery and Anse La Raye. A common approach will be taken in all the targeted areas with emphasis on particular strengths of the communities. Arts and Craft will be highlighted primarily in Choiseul and there were intentions to make the southern community the center for “everything craft,” including local clay and ceramic products, straw products and bamboo. Agro food processing would be the focus for Micoud—an agro-based industry, where all products would be developed utilizing local produce.

The potential was evident for Anse La Raye as a tourism village and with the program, the need to preserve the heritage of the traditional village and upgrade it, as a model for attraction of visitors to the area was a priority.

According to representatives from OPSR, there was already an existing assessment done by the French Embassy on restoring buildings in that particular area to enhance French heritage.

Herbal and aromatherapy products would be developed in Canaries where the Canabelle Soap Cooperative already exists. Developers of the mostly EU-funded STRIDE program saw the opportunity to build on development in that sector and produce a variety of local herbs and develop cottage industries for processing. The range of all-local products would include candles, soaps, perfumes, lotions, oils, potpourri, bath salts, sachets, teas, and herb-based drinks. Development in this area is also expected to include a spa experience using primarily products manufactured on the premises.

Finally there was Dennery where locally produced garments and accessories would be the focus area. According to representatives from OPSR, the project would likely be implemented utilizing skilled persons from former garment factories in the area to manufacture customized clothing for sale locally and abroad.

“A lot of the work is being spearheaded by other associations because we want the program to be sustainable,” Emmanuel explained. “We’ve taken the route of building that kind of solid foundation going forward. We can’t do every single constituency; there are five core areas.”

Emmanuel added there were “high stakes” on the project and said the OPSR wished to approach several areas.

“We recognized that the project had to be able to motivate people,” she said. “It’s an attempt to improve the business environment and savings and investment issues. Businesses need money. Money must make money.”
Emmanuel explained that the time span of the program was 24 months. February marks month number 14 since work on STRIDE began—the project is set for completion at the end of this year. During the last year the OPSR had been engaged in an intensive process of stakeholder discussion and consultation to determine specifics of the initiatives that would be funded with the EU and government resources.

The OPSR Director admitted they were quite late with the launch but there was ground work that needed to be put in place first. According to Jacqueline Emmanuel they’d reached the point that, “if we didn’t launch the activities would over take us.” Next week a local game show intended to promote business development in a fun and educational way will be launched as part of STRIDE.
“We wanted to give a good view of the comprehensiveness of STRIDE,” said Emmanuel. “Every one should think business, and it shouldn’t necessarily be an option. We have to work against time. If we don’t accomplish goals at end of program we would lose money.”

Other activities planned within the next few months include road shows and consultancy meetings. There are ten months remaining for STRIDE project implementation and Emmanuel added that the work in Choiseul was about to be initiated.
At the launch there were questions about whether businesses that were developed, as a result of STRIDE, would be monitored for sustainability even after the project was completed. It was the hope of the OPSR Director that at the business level, a mentorship program would be established in an effort to continue to monitor the progress of businesses after the program was completed.

In her remarks Minister for Commerce, Tessa Mangal congratulated the OPSR on the inauguration of the economic development program, “that aptly complements their already impressive portfolio of initiatives undertaken to date. Mangal pledged the unwavering support of the ministry of commerce and the government in its implementation and the attainment of the specified goals.”