OECS Seeking to Enhance Advocacy for Sub-Regional Private Sector

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Business Council (OBC) says it is seeking to enhance its advocacy for the private sector in the Eastern Caribbean.

It said that this initiative is part of the ongoing project titled “The Revitalisation and Sustainability of the OECS Business Council,” funded under the OECS – European Union Regional Integration through Growth, Harmonisation, and Technology (RIGHT) Programme.

Since its establishment in July 2015, the OBC said it is intent on providing  a unified voice for businesses across the region, addressing the challenges and opportunities they face. However, the OBC has grappled with obstacles such as a lack of sustainable technical support and the need for a more cohesive representation of private sector interests.

The OBC said to tackle these issues, it is focusing on strengthening institutional arrangements for effective private-sector engagement.

Late last month, members of the OBC participated in training focused on two critical areas, namely the Strategy Delivery Measurement and  Aligning for Performance, and Governance Training.

Chairperson of the OBC, Gordon Charles, said he hoped the outcome of the training workshop would help  the sub-region in understanding  that there is a definite place in the regional hierarchical structure of the private sector for the OECS Business Council, especially when it launches its digital platform.

“If this is run properly and strategically, I think there is a very real opportunity for us to be able to ensure that our private sector has very effective representation at OECS heads (of government meetings) and across the region.”

The OBC said it has long recognised the need for stronger collaboration among business support organisations to create a competitive economic environment in the OECS.

By improving its governance structure and aligning its performance metrics, the Council aims to enhance its capacity to advocate for the private sector in policy-making and that the  training was designed to strengthen the Council’s processes, enabling it to better serve the diverse interests of the regional private sector.

“For the OECS Commission, our collaboration with the private sector is essential because much of what we do in the context of the economic union…actually has a direct bearing on the private sector,” said Joel Richards, the officer in Charge of the Economic Affairs and Regional Integration Division at the OECS Commission.