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28TH JANUARY, 2004
MEDIA RELEASE
PSC CONVENES MEETING ON BUSINEE DEVELOPMENT IN REGION 10

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Thursday 22nd January 2004, convened a meeting of all key players involved in business developmnet in Region 10, with the view to exchange information and ideas on various initiatives being undertaken and on some of the challenges being experiened.

Attending the meeting were Prime Minister Sam Hinds, representatives from the PSC, GMA, Linden Chamber of Commerce, GO-Invest, LEAP, EMPRETEC, New GMC, GFC, Lands and Surveys Commission, Privatisation Unit and the Ministries of Agriculture and Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

With the contraction of operations at LINMINE over the recent years and the scaling down of mining activities by OMAI, employment opportunities have been significantly reduced for the residents of Region 10. The Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP), supported by the European Commission, is being implemented to create new opportunities for economic activity and employment. A number of other initiatives are also being undertaken.

The meeting discussed the training and skills development programmes being implemented by LEAP and EMPRETEC, the need for more innovative forms of financing to support small businesses, the incentives available for business development in Region 10, the availability of information for investors, land for agriculture and industrial development and the need for production of consumer goods within the area to meet the day-to-day needs of residents. Possibilities for downstream manufacturing of wood products, including craft and furniture, jewellery and garments were also reviewed.

Participants agreed that such meetings should be on-going as the sharing of ideas, information and collaboration among the agencies involved are critical to the success of the programmes being implemented.