Saint Lucia Export Board holds “Most Exportable Song” competition to recognize local talent

Export Saint Lucia (ESL), Saint Lucia’s premier marketing agency, is offering local artists an exciting opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for the coveted title of “Most Exportable Song” during this year’s Saint Lucia Carnival. The winner will receive a generous prize of US$5,000.

At a recent media conference, ESL Executive Director Sunita Daniel stressed the importance of building a strong domestic brand before venturing into global markets. She highlighted the key role played by Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire in securing ESL as a partner of Carnival two years ago. Daniel reiterated ESL’s commitment to promoting the best of Saint Lucia on the global stage, stating, “What we do at Export Saint Lucia is share the best of Saint Lucia with the rest of the world.”

Creatives play an integral role in producing Carnival’s products, which span music, fashion, theatre and dance. Daniel also mentioned St. Lucia’s successful participation in the Dubai Expo and ESL’s upcoming plans to enter the Japanese market.

ESL provides many opportunities for local artists to perform and showcase their talents on international platforms. Danielle stressed the importance of nurturing a strong local product that can be successfully marketed internationally. “We will be looking for a really authentic Saint Lucian song that we can also market internationally,” she declared.

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In addition to the performance opportunities, ESL also hosted a tailor-made music business workshop for Dennery Segment artists performing at Expo Dubai, an initiative aimed at raising their standards to meet the requirements of the global market.

In explaining the criteria for the “Most Exportable Song” competition, Daniel stressed the importance of reflecting details of St. Lucia’s vibrant arts and culture in the song and capturing the essence of “what makes me Lucian.”

She expressed the agency’s passion to inspire creative artists and stressed the need for the song to authentically represent Saint Lucia while having the potential for international appeal.

ESL has pledged not only a $5,000 prize to the winner, but also additional overseas promotional opportunities. The organization has worked with multiple stakeholders and the public to select a song that represents Saint Lucia and has the potential to be successful in export markets.

“We are really looking for a song that will cross borders and we will initially offer a prize of $5,000…”, she stressed.

ESL’s goal with this initiative is to promote songs that will appeal to the international market and provide a platform for local artists to showcase their talents on a global scale.”