SKIPA CEO – Ms. Shawna Lake
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 17, 2009 (CUOPM)
The St. Kitts and Nevis Investment Promotion Agency (SKIPA) has updated the Manufacturers’ Division of the St. Kitts & Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce on its operations.
SKIPA’s CEO, Ms. Shawna Lake in a meeting with members of the private sector organisation outlined the agency’s main functions that include investment promotion, investment facilitation, aftercare services and policy advocacy.
She explained that since the inception of SKIPA on December 11, 2007 the agency has participated in three overseas promotional events and pointed out that although SKIPA would like to participate in more overseas events the changing global environment has negatively affected the agency’s ability to do so.
During the presentation, Ms. Lake confirmed that SKIPA is an organisation that assists local investors as well as foreign investors. She cited SKIPA’s work with the St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism Association in establishing a concession package for small hotels and the recently approved concession package for full service-stand alone restaurants as evidence of the agency’s commitment to improving the investment climate in St. Kitts for both local and foreign investors.
Ms. Lake also alluded to ongoing work being done with the St. Kitts & Nevis Building Contractors Association geared towards improving their ability to deliver a more efficient product to citizens of St. Kitts and the investment community in general.
She also noted that more will be done in the coming weeks to increase awareness of SKIPA and its services among the local population.
The Manufacturer’s Association responded favorably to the presentation and expressed their gratitude for the work that SKIPA has been doing. In a gesture of good faith, the Association offered their support to the agency as it continues in its quest to improve the investment climate in St. Kitts.