Rajana explains functions of National Competitiveness Strategy Unit
DIRECTOR of the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit (NCSU), Dr. Cecil Rajana has suggested that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) conduct a mapping of investments to be undertaken by Government, to determine what business opportunities those may generate and what partnership arrangements are possible.
Speaking at a press conference, last week Thursday, in the PSC Carmichael Street, Georgetown office, he said the undertaking would benefit those who carry out the exercise.
Rajana said, for example, the Government is working assiduously to develop hydropower and has already begun work on access roads.
“A mapping exercise would allow the Private Sector to make a determination of two things – one, what business opportunities may arise for its membership as the infrastructure leading to that project is developed and the other is what opportunities the project, itself, offers for partnership arrangements between the Private Sector and the Government and whoever shall undertake the construction,” he contended.
Rajana, noting the development of ports in Georgetown, stated: “There has got to be significant improvements and what are those partnerships going to be like.
“The Government has major focus on some investment opportunities and, I think, it is very important that the PSC has the capacity to sense the direction in which those are moving and what sort of opportunities they can generate for its membership.”
He cited the Linden/Lethem road, which is of significant importance and said there is room for partnership arrangements there where the Private Sector can play a big role.
“We need to look at, apart from doing business in the regular manner in terms of what the PSC does in relation to its membership interest. At the moment, there is need to do some investment mapping and see what specific opportunities may emerge as a result of these massive Government investment proposals which really are investments that are likely to take place realistically in a very short while,” Rajana maintained.

OVERVIEW
Giving an overview of the status of implementation of the NCS, he said it is at  mid-point.
“And what that means is that we are in a position to make some assessment as to what the impact of our efforts have been to date,” Rajana explained.
He said the body works through a number of sub-components of the programme called the Support for Competitiveness Programme (SCP) and one  such relates to the Deeds Registry, where an attempt is being made to establish it as an autonomous entity that will function with up to date technology, more efficiently and effectively.
Towards that objective, Rajana said the entire database in the Registry is being computerised also as it relates to transports.
“If you go to the Deeds Registry and you want to do business, the transport is a critical instrument for the banking system, particularly, if you want to use that as a basis to obtain a loan or some financial support. It is vital that you have very quick recourse to an up-to-date record on the transport system,” he emphasised.
Rajana said, hopefully, this component of the programme, which is progressing more than satisfactorily, would be completed by the end of the year.
Another aspect, he said, is the retooling and strengthening of Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), which has to do with putting in place new measurement systems and reviewing the governing legislation.
“We are putting in place a new strategy and we are also financing quite a bit of the weights and measurement equipment that they will use,” he revealed, explaining that the aim is to impose better standards and that is also progressing well.
Rajana continued: “We hope that, by mid next year, they would have completely implemented their component of the programme successfully and be in a position to better deliver services to the public.”
He said the NSCU is also seeking to build the capacity of Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), to better deliver on its mandate and one of the key areas involved in the financing is the trade point which is expected to be operationlised soon.

PROGRESSING
Rajana said this execution is progressing well and it is hoped that all the areas will be finished in about two years.
The NCS is to also move forward the Government/Private Sector partnership in a number of areas and some laws which impact directly on the conduct of business are being reviewed to make sure they are more user friendly.
Other undertakings include promulgating a consumer protection law to look after consumers’ interest, after having just established a competition commission to ensure that firms do not behave in an improper manner in the market place and, in particular, prevent them from abusing their dominant position.
Rajana said,  additionally, the NCSU is working in a variety of other areas, particularly in infrastructure, where there is a sub-committee chaired by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and including the private and public sectors on areas such as roads, power and ports.
Rajana said that is moving ahead, too, functioning very effectively.
He said in the area of trade transaction, there is a public/private dialogue body as well.
“We do a lot of work there, including, right now, the introduction, for the ease of doing business, particularly imports and exports, a system that will enable exporters and importers to make their applications and obtain their licences on a computer based system,” Rajana related.
He said, at the same time, NCSU is moving to make it very easy for businesses to submit their manifests online, in relation to Customs Value Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes.
Rajana gave the assurance that the NCSU is working closely with the PSC and has been consulting extensively in partnership on a number of issues, such as corporate governance and the results of that is now under consideration by the Private Sector.