The 16th Annual Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show was a big hit with those who visited the three-day event during the past weekend.

This year’s trade show was held from November 3-5 at The Pavilion near The Ramp at Rodney Bay, and featured 69 Saint Lucian businesses and 16 Taiwanese businesses displaying their products and services. The participants were carefully selected by the Ministry of Commerce and by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to showcase their best quality products to potential local and international buyers.

Participating businesses showcased a wide array of products in the following categories: web-based services, robotics, food and beverage, ICT services, energy efficiency, health and beauty, creative arts, and consumer services.

During the official opening on Thursday evening, November 2, 2023, H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said he hoped this year’s trade show serves as a catalyst for greater economic ties, friendship, and progress between our two countries.

“We are happy to see the trade show expand its scale from 26 booths last year to more than 70 booths this year, including 3 booths to showcase the products of the trainees of the Youth Economy Agency, and 4 Taiwanese companies attending physically,” said Ambassador Chen.

He added: “During the three-day event, B2B meetings will be arranged for potential Saint Lucian buyers or suppliers. By providing broader access for local businesses to engage their international counterparts, we hope to create more successful business deals during the trade show.”

In his feature remarks, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy, also focused his remarks on this year’s trade show theme, saying it reflected “our recognition of the swift pace at which technology and innovation are reshaping the business world.”

“The convergence of artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics and e-commerce has reshaped our approach to commerce,” said Hon. Pierre. “It is important that we not only recognize this paradigm shift, but actively encourage our business people to embrace these transformative technologies, ensuring that we remain not only domestically competitive, but internationally as well.”