St Lucia: Doing business and staying in touch

Doing Business in St Lucia

A short- or long-sleeved shirt and tie or a lightweight suit are suitable for most business visits.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0830-1230.

Economy

St Lucia's economy still relies heavily on agriculture but has broadened during the last 15 years. Light industry has been a key part of this process: the establishment of export processing zones and the successful attraction of foreign investment has created a healthy sector producing plastic, textiles and industrial gases and assembling electronic components. There is also a significant construction industry. The main agricultural exports are bananas, coconuts and cocoa.

The government is focusing its efforts on further diversification, principally directed towards the creation of a service sector based on tourism and financial services. It has also affected various deregulation measures and privatisation of a number of major state-owned enterprises.

St Lucia is a member of the regional trading bloc, CARICOM, and the region's principal political co-operative grouping, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

A number of hotels offer conference facilities, with seating for up to 200 persons. The St Lucia Tourist Board can provide details (see Important Addresses).

GDP

US$985 million (2010).

Main exports

Bananas, cocoa, vegetables, fruit, other agricultural products, oils and fats and manufactured goods.

Main imports

Food, fuel, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals.

Main trading partners

Barbados, Spain, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA.

Keeping in Touch in St Lucia

Telephone

The international dialling code for St Lucia is 1 758.

Mobile Phone

Coverage is good. Mobile phones are available to hire. Operators on St Lucia have not yet declared roaming agreements with international mobile phone companies.

Internet

Public access is available at the internet kiosk at Pointe Seraphine. Other internet cafés are also available across the island.

Media

St Lucia's newspapers and broadcasters are mainly privately owned. There are no daily newspapers. The government operates a radio network.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week.

Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0900-1330.