Stronger trade partnerships could be on the horizon for Saint Lucia and Martinique, says Ambassador of France to the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados, Marie-Noëlle Duris.
Duris points out that the two neighbouring islands have much in common, and discussions are ongoing to increase the exchange of goods like food and other local products.
“…Martinique is working with Saint Lucia to implement import-export facilitation for 15 products,” Duris said in an interview with St Lucia Times. She did not have the full list at the time, but mentioned it would include dairy products, beauty products like perfumes, and other items.
Duris says there are already a few business links, but believes trade can grow to benefit both countries. “Martinique represents a market of nearly 400,000 inhabitants, and these are great investment and exchange opportunities for Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia also represents an opportunity for Martinique.”
Saint Lucia and Martinique, which is a French overseas territory, are just 37 kilometres apart. Trade opportunities between them and other Caribbean countries have long been discussed. In April 2017, a trade mission from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to Saint Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica identified issues in transportation, logistics, production capacity, certification, phytosanitary controls, and communication technology systems.
In 2018, the Trade Enhancement for the Eastern Caribbean programme sought to improve trade and investment between Martinique and OECS countries like Saint Lucia. However, the effort identified additional barriers, including weak business coordination across the islands and low export readiness.
In 2024, Martinique and Guadeloupe organised an export mission to Saint Lucia, even though trade between them remains rare. Eighteen companies from the two French islands looked for business opportunities. During the trip, former French Ambassador Francis Étienne noted that less than 3% of exports from Martinique and Guadeloupe head to Saint Lucia, and less than 1% of their imports come from Saint Lucia.
“The potential for improvement is infinite…Anything we can do to support business is necessary but, more importantly, essential,” Étienne said.
According to Duris, European Union regulations also pose a challenge. “In particular, the standards imposed by this regulation,” she told St Lucia Times. “Today, this makes the exchange of goods more difficult, but nothing is insurmountable, and it is thanks to the will to move forward together and to common work that it will be possible to find solutions.”
Duris says several parties are working to overcome the current barriers. “I’m pretty confident that we will find solutions for at least a few products, but we will be able to make this list wider,” she said.
The headline is somewhat misleading, there’s plenty of trade between Martinique and Saint Lucia, it’s just that a lot of it is illegal! Think of all the Euros the police seize, where do you think this comes from, and in exchange for what! Think also of all the young women who ply their trade in Martinique, according to Sparrow, ‘bet your life is something they selling!’ So the trade goes on, whether is exchange of goods for goods, or goods, (well in some cases) for services!
What is the role of the charge’d’ affair of St Lucia to Martinique in a project like this?