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Doing business & staying in touch

A lightweight suit is suitable for most business visits. Handshaking is the normal greeting for acquaintances and for formal introductions. Business cards are expected from people who do not live on the islands.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1630.

Government office hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1600, Fri 0800-1500.

Economy: 

Antigua was one of the first Caribbean islands to actively encourage tourism. Tourism and financial services are now the main components of the service sector, which accounts for over three-quarters of the Antiguan economy. Both have suffered problems in recent years - tourism because of repeated hurricanes, and finance because of questionable associations with money-laundering operations.

Fears of an over-reliance on tourism and finance have led the government to try and diversify the economy into manufacturing, agriculture and fishing. Internet gaming is playing an important role in the diversification and expansion of the services sector. A final source of revenue for the government is the rent on two US military bases.

Despite these measures, national debts are high. The 2005 budget included cuts to the public service salary and the reintroduction of income tax. Antigua & Barbuda has large trade and balance of payments deficits and relies heavily on foreign aid.
Around 20% of the members of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association (see Accommodation) offer meeting facilities.

GDP: 

US$1.5 billion (2007).

Main exports: 

Petroleum products, manufactured goods, food and livestock and machinery and transport equipment.

Main imports: 

Food and live animals, machinery, manufactured goods, chemicals and oil.

Main trading partners: 

Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, USA and Canada.

Staying in touch in Antigua and Barbuda

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Unregistered roaming is available - visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number.

Internet: 

Available in large cities and resorts.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600.

Media: 

Many of Antigua & Barbuda's broadcast media is politically owned or controlled, although this is now changing. The country's first independent radio station, Observer Radio, launched in 2001 after a five-year struggle to obtain a licence. The daily and weekly press carries a spectrum of opinion, including criticism of the government.

Press: 

• Some newspapers have political or governmental associations. All are in English.
• The main newspapers are the Antigua Sun (published Monday to Saturday) and the Daily Observer.
• The Worker's Voice is published twice-weekly by Antigua Labour Party and Antigua Trades and Labour Union.

Television: 

• The local TV station is called ABS (run by Antigua & Barbuda Broadcasting Services).
• Cable television is widely available.

Radio: 

• Observer Radio and ZDK are commercial broadcasters.
• Sun FM is private and commercial.
• Some radio stations are owned by political or religious factions, such as Crusader Radio, owned by the United Progressive Party.

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