Photo Credit: http://www.visailing.com
Photo Credit: http://www.visailing.com
Beginning tomorrow, September 19 to 22, the BVI, which is known as the sailing capital of the world, will be participating in the Monaco Yacht Show in Southern France to promote its first class yachting industry, ship registration services and complementing tourism facilities. This is according to a release from the Government Information Service (GIS).
The show attracts over 28,000 visitors to Southern France, including brokers, designers, equipment manufacturers, shipyards and other members of the luxury yacht industry.
Premier Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith, who is presently out of the Territory on duty travel until September 30 will be attending the show.
According to GIS, Premier Smith is on his way to Monaco, Southern France for the Monaco Yacht Show, after which he will travel to Copenhagen for the first meeting of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council (COCTC) on September 23, ending his travels in Greenland for the 11th Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union (OCT-EU) Forum and Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) Ministerial Conference from September 25 to 27.
"The BVI, which serves as Vice President of OCTA, is also the Deputy Regional Authorising Officer (DRAO) for the Caribbean Members of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) of 15 million Euros, equivalent to over 20 million US Dollars," GIS stated.
As the DRAO, the Territory is charged with managing the 10th EDF's Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Programme, intended to build the capacity of SME intermediaries, such as Small Business Bureaus, Trade Departments and Chambers of Commerce, to help them better service SMEs. The current status of the SME programme, which was approved on August 15, will be a point of discussion at the EU-OCT Forum. Since approved, the financing agreement will be signed shortly.
Earlier this year, Premier Smith hosted Chairman of OCTA and Premier of Greenland, Mr. Kuupik Kleist, who visited the Territory in June as part of his familiarisation mission in the region.
In Premier Smith's absence, Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering will act as Premier and Minister of Finance in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007.
