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  • Cruise tourism industry set for steady growth in 2019 and beyond

Cruise tourism industry set for steady growth in 2019 and beyond

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With the 2018 cruise figures already surpassing those of the year prior with a recorded 792,873 visitors, Tourism officials are buoyant regarding the prospects for 2019 and beyond.

According to Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez, “the 2018 cruise tourism’s performance was an historic achievement under this administration…it is the best result in the annals of our history in the cruise tourism business.”

During his budget contribution last week, the Minister of Tourism and Investment cited that based at an average spend per passenger of US$79, a total of US$62,636,967 was injected into the economy in 2018.

Minister Fernandez attributes the remarkable growth in the Cruise tourism sector in 2018 to the foresight of the Ministry of Tourism and the Government to invest US$30 million to upgrade the port of St. John’s in 2016.

Further growth is forecast in the nearby future as the country’s cruise ship facilities are now being positioned for upgrades and expansion.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Global Ports Holding (GPH) to negotiate a long-term concession for cruise port operations in the country.

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The Tourism Minister noted that, “The agreement will also see the construction of a number of new retail outlets in the project area…and GPH will also be investing in the material upgrade of the St. John’s Port including the construction of a new pier that will allow the port to handle Oasis-class ships.”

The Global Port Holding agreement is a game changer for the cruise industry and will ensure an exponential increase in the islands’ cruise passenger numbers to well past one million within the next 18 months.

Cruise passenger spend is also likely to increase because of the GPH agreement. The company has agreed to support local small business operators through the establishment of the YES foundation.

Local business owners and/or aspiring business owners with new and innovative tourism product ideas will be able to access soft loans at competitive interest rates through this foundation to bring their ideas to fruition.

With exciting and enticing new products added to the Antiguan and Barbudan tourism offerings, visitors will be stimulated to spend more during their stay.

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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]