STAKEHOLDERS in the government and the private sector and other relevant agencies yesterday met President Bharrat Jagdeo for the continuation of dialogue aimed at uncovering obstacles to Guyana’s economic development and competitiveness. The meeting was the 7th session of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), Guyana’s highest private-public advisory council with an overarching goal of delivering on the objectives of the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) for better employment, exports and investment for Guyana.
The second draft of the NCS was launched by President Jagdeo on May 2006, four days after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Government and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for the establishment of the NCC.
The NCC functions to oversee ongoing strategy formulation, adherence to the goals of the NCS, and the implementation of policies and programme.  
The NCC meets on a quarterly basis, provides advisory support to the government and submits recommendations on a quarterly basis to the sub-committee of Cabinet for Trade and Investment. Its members comprise 12 representatives, six of whom are government nominated, four from the private sector, and two from organized labour.
For the first three years of the council’s operations, technical assistance was provided through support from an Inter American Development Bank (IDB) that catered to the drafting of internal procedures, the commissioning of technical studies, and mediation between public-private councils and the NCC. (GINA)