Montserrat: Doing business & staying in touch
Doing business in Montserrat
A short- or long-sleeved shirt without a jacket is suitable for most business visits.
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).
Electronic components, plastic bags, clothing, hot peppers, limes, live plants and cattle.
Machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants and related materials.