Georgetown: The Private Sector and Organized Labor in Guyana are extremely satisfied with the progress of the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) and outcome of the seventh Steering Committee (NSC) meeting yesterday which was chaired by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (ag) Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
This committee, widely acknowledged as an exemplary Public/Private partnership involving Governmental, Private Sector and other Civil Society Leaders, examined a number of groundbreaking issues aimed at fast tracking Guyana’s competitiveness. These include:
– Proposals to improve Guyana’s Interior airstrips and reacquiring category one rating for the aviation sector
– An action plan for improving Guyana’s ranking on the World Bank’s Doing Business Index to number 80 by 2015
– Adoption of a concept paper for the Improvement of the Georgetown Harbor through a public/ private partnership arrangement.
– Support to Micro and small businesses to stimulate job creation
– Report of an initial proposal for a state warehouse from a subcommittee of a working group established for this purpose
– Proposal for holding an economic forum for the exchange of ideas among representatives of Government and Private Sector bodies including small businesses
– Status report of trade transaction action plan and single window automated processing system (SWPS)
– Update of the work of the Consumer and Competition Affairs Commission
– An initiative to improve exports to Suriname and Brazil based on a study to be conducted under the auspices of CaribExport
At the close of the meeting , representatives of the private sector and organized labour expressed optimism over the steering committee’s deliberations and proposals , and agreed upon the next steps in the implementation process.
Ronald Webster, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), felt that the economic forum slated for early July, bode well for ramping up National Economic and Social Growth. He lauded Government for the expectations associated with Small Business Development Fund as outlined in a presentation by the Small Business Bureau, on the Micro and Small Enterprise Development (MSED) and Building Alternative Livelihoods for Vulnerable Groups Project.
Ramesh Dookhoo, Chairman of the Trade, Intelligence and Investment Committee of the PSC noted “Minister Ali has propelled the NSC far beyond the place we were a year ago”. He also alluded to the benefits that the National Competitiveness Strategy has created to improve the quality of life of Guyanese. However, he reiterated that the PSC was dis-satisfied with the way Parliament is functioning and asked for a more collaborative than confrontational approach among political parties.
Kit Nascimento, representing the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) reiterated the importance of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) piloting measures for Guyana to reclaim category one rating. He acknowledged benefits to be derived from the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and noted that such improvement was critical to providing better facilities that are currently non-existent at that entity.
Clinton Williams, President of the Guyana Manufacturing Services Association embraced the recommendations contained in the concept paper for the improvement of the Georgetown harbor by dredging initially, and then moving on to installation of other supportive infrastructure.
Andrew Astwood, Secretary of the PSC pointed to the consequential benefits from the customs warehouse as envisaged in the concept paper which was discussed at the meeting.
Carvil Duncan, representative of Organised Labour described today’s meeting as “one of the most progressive in the interest of national development that he has attended in a long time”. He added that the Trade Union Movement and was happy in the job creation prospects as envisaged by the implementation of the GRIF funded MSED project; a significant benefit of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)
Minister Ali thanked the civil society leaders, NCSU coordinator and secretariat members and other participants for their patriotism as demonstrated by the voluntary contribution of time and talent toward ensuring the overwhelming success of the seventh meeting of the National Competitiveness Steering Committee.
You must be logged in to post a comment.