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Antigua and Barbuda and China WTO Ambassadors Hold Bilateral Meeting

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The WTO ambassador of the People’s Republic of China HE Mr Li Chenggang and the WTO ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda HE Mr Colin Murdoch held a bilateral meeting on Monday at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Geneva.

At the outset Ambassador Li highlighted the excellent relations between Antigua and Barbuda and China, which have existed for over forty years. He also mentioned the recent visit by PM Gaston Browne to China where he met with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He emphasized that the Chinese side regarded the visit of PM Browne as very successful; and that part of his responsibilities was to follow up on aspects of the decisions reached during Mr Browne’s visit.

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Ambassador Murdoch stated that he expected relations between both countries to be strengthened after the meeting between Xi Jinping and PM Browne and that he would work towards a closer cooperation between China and Antigua and Barbuda at the WTO. He pointed out that he was aware that both sides had agreed in Beijing to strengthen cooperation in international agencies and bodies such as the WTO.

Both ambassadors discussed the ongoing work of the WTO especially in light of the upcoming 13th ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi at the end of February and how the positions of both countries could be aligned on various issues that will come before the ministerial conference, including WTO reform, fisheries subsidies and special and differential treatment for developing countries. Ambassador Li noted that OECS had been playing a very active role in the ongoing WTO negotiations and he wished to establish a regular consultation mechanism even after the ministerial conference.

On the matter of WTO reform, Ambassador Murdoch briefed Ambassador Li on the OECS position on reform of the WTO dispute settlement system and he took the opportunity to remind the ambassador of the case brought by Antigua and Barbuda against the United States (DS 285) which Antigua and Barbuda won but which still remains unsettled. Ambassador Li informed that as a former trade negotiator for China he was familiar with the case.

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Both diplomats agreed to establish regular meetings and to work more closely on WTO issues.

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]