Background
The
island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its
economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses
production through most of the 20th century. In the 1990s, tourism and
manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
Historically,
the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and
related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into
manufacturing and tourism. Offshore finance and information services
are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light
manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce
unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize
remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2001 due
to slowdowns in tourism and consumer spending. Growth will remain
anemic in 2002 with a recovery likely near the end of the year.
Holidays
Jan 1 - New Year's Day
Jan 21 - Errol Barrow Day
Mar 25* - Good Friday
Mar 28* - Easter Monday
Apr 28 - National Heroes' Day
May 1 - Labour Day
May 16* - Whit Monday
Aug 1* - Emancipation Day; Kadooment Day
Nov 30 - Independence Day
Dec 25 - Christmas
Dec 26 - Boxing Day
Ps: These festivals' dates (*) given above are approximations which are subject to change every new year.
Phone Codes
Country Code: 1 246
Outgoing International Code: 011
Resources
Market Research
Invest Barbados
Information
about advantages of investing in Barbados, with links to international
financial services companies and offshore management companies.
Barbados Tourism Investment Guide
It
is the portal of Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTI) which is the
development agency of the Government of Barbados with special
responsibility for promoting and facilitating investment in the tourism
and hospitality sector in Barbados.
CIA - The World Factbook - Barbados
This
website indicates a wide range of detail information about Barbados by
introducing under 8 different fields as its geography,people,
government, economy, communications, transportation, military,
transnational issues.
OPIC Links - Investor's Information Gateway for Barbados
There
is available country database information links which are efficient for
the new investors planned to do business in Barbados including the
contact lists of the institutions, organization related to Barbados
business.
Business in Barbados
It
is the Editorial Board Business Barbados that is the nation newspaper
website of one of the two daily newspapers in Barbados.
About Barbados
There
is available to find out Barbados general outlook on the issues of its
social and business profile, passport/visa, money, accommodation,
government, duty free, health and so forth.
Trade Information
Government of Barbados Ministries/Agencies
The
ministry of Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Business Development; The
ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; The ministry of Industry
and International Business; Fair Trading Commission.
WorldL II- Categories-Countries- Barbados-Government | 
