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Doing business & staying in touch

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.

Staying 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.

Post: 

Airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week.

Post office hours: 

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

Media: 

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

Press: 

The main newspapers are The Crusader, The Mirror, The Star and The Voice of St Lucia. Visions Magazine is published by the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association.

Television: 

The main channels are operated by Helen Television Systems (HTS), Daher Broadcasting Service and Catholic Broadcasting TV Network.

Radio: 

Radio Saint Lucia (RSL) is a state-owned network. Other stations are Radio Caribbean International, Radio 100 and Hot FM.

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