New initiatives needed to ramp up export potential

Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Business Development, Sandra Husbands has told Barbados that building bridges, and identifying challenges and opportunities are the keys to enhancing trade relations between the island and Kenya.

She told a virtual meeting between commerce officials from Barbados and Kenya, increased political cooperation over the past two years has resulted in an increase in imports from Kenya.

Barbados’ exports to Kenya however decreased.

This, she says, highlights the need for Barbados to implement new initiatives in order to ramp up its export potential.

Minister Husbands believes people-to-people interaction is key to achieving and increasing trade.

She adds through the Embassy in Kenya, headed by High Commissioner, William Alexander McDonald, Barbados is seeking to establish linkages between communities, clubs and associations.

In addition, the island is seeking to have exchanges between schools, universities, cultural groups and practitioners, as well as media entities.