Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas says the global economic climate dictates a rapid move to the next level of integration in the form of a truly meaningful economic union in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

"The challenges that many of our countries have faced over the past months as a result of the global financial crisis have forced us to put our heads together to arrive at joint solutions to the problems that we face," Dr Douglas said as he addressed the official launch of national consultations on the proposed OECS Economic Union.

While the prime minister expressed confidence that the global crisis will pass, he said the dynamic nature of global economic relations and the impact of globalisation are such that new challenges will emerge with even greater frequency in the years ahead.