MINISTER OF BUSINESS  Dominic Gaskin has committed to having the Belvedere Industrial Site completed under a strong framework of regulations and policies.He made the commitment Friday while speaking at the Berbice 2015 Exposition and Trade Fair at the Albion Sports Complex Ground.
Noting that the Belvedere Industrial site, which was opened  over a decade ago, is still underutilised, Minister Gaskin said:
“I will get this done as early as possible,  so that we can complete the Belvedere Industrial Site under a strong framework of regulations and policies and direction.”
He also observed  that government was committed to having a clear, coherent and national development policy with respect  to  managing and operating industrial sites in Guyana.
He further stressed the need for Guyana to have a vibrant, innovative, independent and competitive private sector that  can partner with government and other stakeholders, through an ongoing structured  engagement to create a long-term plan for the country development.
“Our government is committed to partnering with a progressive private sector  in building a strong and sustainable economy.”
And, cognisant of the global implications of all this, Minister Gaskin said the  world is now harmonising a set of minimum targets for human development,  achievable over the next  15 years,  and these are  contained in an agenda for sustainable development  2030 which will be signed by 193 member countries of the United Nations, including Guyana, later this month in the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The sustainable development goals  will be the new goals that Guyana will commit itself to  achieving by 2030, “ he said.  “There are seventeen goals representing broad areas of development  and each is broken down in a set of targeted objectives.”
Goal Number Eight promotes  inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment,  and decent work for all.
Said the minister, “This  Goal and all of its objective is global; its meaning is clear, and it is within this context that our government  would like to frame a national  economic development strategy for Guyana .. this goal speaks  very strongly of creating more and better employment opportunities, particularly to our young population…”
His reason for focussing on sustainable development goals, the minister said, has to  do with the fact that over the last 50 years, Guyanese have failed to develop a strong and fortified economy that it is capable of competing with the rest of the world.
To successfully reverese this trend, he said, the onus is on the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) to heighten Guyana’s presence on foreign markets, and to also increase significantly direct investment to this country’s economy.
One of the things that events like the Berbice Exposition does, the minister said, is allow small businesses to gain access to a volume of customers they may not ordinarily encounter, thereby allowing them to showcase their products and services,  and get valuable feedback, which can in turn be used to help them get their act together and thus make them more competitive.
“Many of our small businesses cannot afford to advertise; they rely on word-of-mouth recommendations  to expand their customer base. This is a really important event…”
The Berbice  Trade Fair also  adds significant value  to the region’s economy as visitors come for outside and spend their money  in the region, Minister Gaskin said. (Jeune Bailey-Vankeric)