Montserrat: Doing business and staying in touch

Doing Business in Montserrat

A short- or long-sleeved shirt without a jacket is suitable for most business visits.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1600.

Economy

The island was recovering from the volcanic explosion of January 1997, which destroyed much of the island's productive capacity, when it was hit by a new series of eruptions in July 2003.

Previously, Montserrat had a diverse if fragile economy. The agricultural sector produced vegetables, cotton and livestock. The industrial sector, which employed one-third of the workforce and earned the bulk of Montserrat's export income, was concentrated in food processing and the assembly of electronic components. In the service sector, e-commerce and financial services were two important growth areas.

After the 1997 eruption, the island became largely dependent on foreign aid - in particular, a US$125 million aid package from the UK.
Contact the Montserrat Tourist Board for further details (see Contact Addresses).

GDP

EC$94.7 million (2004).

Main exports

Electronic components, plastic bags, clothing, hot peppers, limes, live plants and cattle.

Main imports

Machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants and related materials.

Main trading partners

USA, UK, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago and Puerto Rico.

Keeping in Touch in Montserrat

Telephone

Phone booths are operated by coins and phonecards.

Mobile Phone

No roaming agreements have been declared. Coverage is limited. Mobile phones can be hired and local SIM cards are available to buy.

Internet

Internet access is available at Andy's Internet Café and Grant Enterprises & Trading.

The main post office in Brades is open Mon-Fri 0815-1600.