Barbados is on the cusp of becoming a major supply hub for cruise lines in the Caribbean — if its manufacturers can maintain consistency in supplying the goods they make, according to Tourism Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill
Speaking at the Provisioning Barbadian Products to the Global Cruise Industry Seminar held at Hilton Barbados on Monday, Gooding-Edghill said: “Our island’s prime status as the leading southern Caribbean homeport gives us the distinct opportunity to increase the volume of locally produced goods, and other items such as indigenous craft which can be sold to the cruise lines.”
The seminar, aimed at providing networking opportunities for domestic producers and artisans, focused on the standards and logistics necessary to make their products available for procurement by major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises.
Gooding-Edghill stressed the importance of capitalising on Barbados’ track record in providing safe harbour and services to cruise lines. “This opens the gateway for not only large manufacturers and distributors, but also smaller operations of local farmers, artisans and other producers, to have unparalleled access to export their business to a larger consumer market beyond these 166 square miles,” he said.
But the minister highlighted a critical challenge that needs to be overcome. “Let me remind you, that consistency of supply is a critical service delivery objective which must be met time and time again,” he said. Gooding-Edghill stressed the importance of this issue: “When you are at sea and you run out of any produce, there is nowhere to go except to wait until you get to the next port.”
Agriculture Minister Indar Weir echoed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and agricultural producers in taking advantage of this lucrative industry. He pointed to the International Food Science Center (IFSC), an initiative of Export Barbados (BIDC) launched in 2022, as being well-positioned to lead this effort.
Weir said: “The food science centre provides an opportunity for not just the agriculture stakeholders, but for manufacturing as well. Whilst I do recall as a youngster manufacturing being one of the main economic drivers in Barbados, I believe the time is right for us to get back there with agrofood processing.”
The agriculture minister also emphasised the broader economic implications of this initiative. “For us to provide those opportunities for enfranchisement that a government alone will not be able to produce, but that the private sector will play its part in making sure that there is enough economic enfranchisement with Barbadians so that they can participate in the economic pie of this country. That is of critical importance to me personally, and of this government,” he added.
