Agency Collaboration opens New Opportunities for Saint Lucia’s Creative Talent

Saint Lucian songwriters and musicians stand to gain new opportunities to showcase their talent and earn income through a digital Creative Marketplace being developed through interagency collaboration.

On 19 October 2026, RISE Saint Lucia and the Taiwan Technical Mission signed a Memorandum of Understanding marking the first phase of the proposed National Opportunity & Enterprise Platform. The agreement brings together development support, technology expertise and music rights knowledge to help creative professionals reach wider audiences and turn their work into commercial opportunities.

The collaborating organisations are members and partners of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA). Their cooperation demonstrates the value of the Association’s network in connecting organisations with complementary expertise and strengthening links between the creative sector and tourism.

For songwriters and musicians, the planned marketplace will provide a channel to showcase original works and offer approved content for purchase or licensing. Performers will be able to promote their services and receive booking or commission requests, while photographers, artists and artisans can establish digital storefronts to reach prospective customers.

These connections could help a hotel discover a local performer, a business commission original creative work, or a visitor continue supporting a Saint Lucian artist after returning home. By reaching hospitality businesses, international visitors and diaspora communities, the platform aims to give local talent greater visibility and more routes to income.

Each collaborating agency brings a distinct contribution. RISE Saint Lucia will manage implementation, while the Taiwan Technical Mission will provide financial support and technical oversight. Orbtronics Ltd., a Saint Lucian technology company, will develop the platform, and the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc. will contribute music rights, data and post-production management support.

ECCO’s participation is particularly relevant to songwriters and musicians, bringing rights expertise to a project that includes the licensing and commercial use of creative works.

The agreement provides for funding of up to EC$39,647.30 from the Taiwan Technical Mission, subject to approval by the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) and agreed requirements. Development is scheduled over 16 weeks, including testing, payment integration and administrator training.

Signed by Mission Chief Daniel Lee and RISE Chairman Dr. Venus Cherry at the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the agreement represents a practical investment in the business potential of Saint Lucian creativity.

For the SLHTA network, it also demonstrates how collaboration among members and partners can create opportunities beyond individual organisations—helping creative professionals access markets while enriching the cultural experiences offered by Saint Lucia’s tourism industry.

For further information

RISE Saint Lucia | rise.saintlucia@gmail.com | +1 758 724 4177

ECCO | ecco@eccorights.org | + 1 758 451-6436 | +1 758 285-0404 | Julian Charles Road, Sans Soucis, Castries