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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 26, 2015 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is deepening relations with diplomatic allies to muster additional support for its national development agenda.

This move is seen as critical given the high development ranking that many international organizations place on the Federation which disqualifies it from accessing soft loans, concessional grants and other development assistance programmes.

“St. Kitts and Nevis can only rely on its national human strengths, skills and enterprise, and of course, the support of international investors and friends like you, to move our country forward,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Mark Brantley, said at a recent meeting of Honorary Consuls of St. Kitts and Nevis.

To achieve this, the senior diplomat said it was important for St. Kitts and Nevis to implement reforms.

“We must become more competitive and attractive to foreign capital investments. We must simplify administrative and regulatory procedures and mechanisms that would improve the ease of doing business,” he stated. “We must formulate and implement more strategic, coherent, agile and responsive policies. We must continue to address education and capacity building. We must promote shared prosperity and social justice.”

Other critical areas to address include poverty, unemployment, youth delinquency and citizen security. The reforms were described as necessary for small states like St. Kitts and Nevis to compete successfully and capitalize on opportunities in a changing globalised world.

“With your help, it is my belief that we can one day move St. Kitts and Nevis from a nation of consumers, to innovators and producers in new areas,” Minister Brantley said. “I am confident that in you, the Honorary Consular Corps, St. Kitts and Nevis will find a willing and dedicated partner with the capacity to act and make a significant impact on the issues that affect the lives of the ordinary people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”

The meeting was described as a prelude to Diplomatic Week scheduled for April 03 to 08, 2016. The theme is “Forging New Partnerships and Strengthening Networks for a More Unified and Prosperous St. Kitts and Nevis.”