Find Computing and Office Supplies expertise in St Vincent and The Grenadines

In 2008 the percentage of households with a computer in St Vincent and the Grenadines was recorded as 47% by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-D, 2008). This penetration rate is average by world standards but low compared to Europe, US, and Australia. Internet penetration statistics are also comparable with the world but low by developed standards. The percentage of households with internet access stood at 34% in 2008 (ITU-D, 2008). While few households have internet access, there are internet cafes on most islands allowing the total population of the islands to have far better access to the internet than statistics may suggest. In 2010 total internet users in St Vincent and the Grenadines were estimated to be 76,000, a total of 73.2% of the population. Almost half of those with internet access are Facebook users (Internet World Stats, 2011).

In 2012 the services sector was the largest contributor to GDP of any sector, contributing an estimated 73.6% of the total GDP for the year (CIA World Factbook, 2010). Many industries within the services sector have a heavy reliance on the computing and office supplies market, suggesting that computing plays a significant role in the overall economy of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Eagles Computer Technology is one of the best known local computing companies in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The company specialises in the supply of hardware, software, peripherals and cabling. Another local player in the computing industry in St Vincent and the Grenadines is MAVCOM, an ICT service provider offering computer support, as well as hardware and software sales. The Majority of computing and office supplies companies are located on St Vincent, in Kingston.

The leading Caribbean telecommunications company LIME serves communities within St Vincent and the Grenadines. LIME offer complete telecommunications packages, as well as providing support and advice to businesses and consumers. In 2013 LIME had an on-going green campaign to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

Computer training and development programmes are an important aspect of the computing industry in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The St Vincent and the Grenadines National Centre for Technological Innovation (SVGNCTI) operates as a department within the Ministry of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry, and was established in 2002 to help citizens gain the vocational skills necessary to acquire employment in the information sector. Following a new government policy in 2002, all secondary schools and 25% of primary schools in St Vincent and the Grenadines were given computer labs, in order to support the acquisition of basic computer skills in school children.