Antigua and Barbuda

In 2012, the value of merchandise exports of Antigua and Barbuda decreased slightly by 0.1 percent to reach 29.0 mln US$, while its merchandise imports decreased substantially by 28.0 percent to reach 339.5 mln US$ (see graph 1, table 2 and table 3). The merchandise trade balance recorded a relatively large deficit of 310.5 mln US$ (see graph 1). The largest merchandise trade balance was with MDG Developed North America at -170.9 mln US$ (see graph 4). Merchandise exports in Antigua and Barbuda were diversified amongst partners; imports were highly concentrated. The top 12 partners accounted for 80 percent or more of exports and 11 partners accounted for 80 percent or more of imports (see graph 5). In 2012, the value of exports of services of Antigua and Barbuda increased slightly by 0.2 percent, reaching 482.5 mln US$, while its imports of services decreased slightly by 3.2 percent and reached 204.1 mln US$ (see graph 2). There was a large trade in services surplus of 278.4 mln US$.

The implementation of E-GRIP in Antigua & Barbuda is part of a regional approach promoting e-government solutions for better efficiency, quality and transparency of public services. For the country, this initiative is piloted by the Ministry of Information under the umbrella of the E-GRIP Committee. With the aim of modernizing the public sector, the government is responding to citizens’ demands for greater responsiveness and availability of public services to them. This framework is a direct link to organizational performance and effectiveness concerned with placing citizens at the center of policy-makers’ considerations. Thus, in this nexus, citizens are also agents of change in the co-creation of ownership and accountability.