KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 5 May, 2026 – Preparations are underway for the hosting of the first Agro-processing Forum to take place this month. The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) will host forty (40) entrepreneurs who add value to agricultural produce by manufacturing various products at the Agro-Processing Forum on Thursday, 14 May.
The Agro-Processing Forum will explore the current landscape of agro-processing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, evaluate its growth potential, and recommend actionable policies/strategies for its sustainable development. Its goals are to examine the current scenario of the agro-processing industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, identify key opportunities in the sector for economic growth and rural development, analyze major challenges impeding the growth of the industry, and to suggest policy recommendations for sustainable development.
The Forum will feature remarks by CED General Manager Mrs. Ronette Lewis and Head of the Department of Private Sector Development, Mr. Christo Primus. It will also feature breakout sessions on relevant topics to fuel discussions among agro-processors regarding their experiences, challenges and vision for the industry.
The agro-processing sector has the potential to uplift the economy but faces numerous challenges. Limited credit access, raw material availability, market access, competition from imported goods and a lack of technical skills hinder its expansion.
The Agro-processing Forum will take place at the Methodist Church Wesley Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Agro-processors are invited to register at: https://forms.gle/vamgiVcdQfFX99aV8