Speeches

PSC . MinTIC

Hon. Min. Manzoor Nadir, MinTIC. May 8th 2006

Pay-offs of Partnership

Six and a half years ago, our President, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, hosted the first Summit on private sector development. At this Summit, which is widely regarded by many as a Guyana success story, our public and private sectors signed on to twenty eight (28) specific initiatives which the Private Sector and Government committed to achieving. Among these were –

• implementation of an Investment Act,
• establishment of a Tourism Authority,
• reform of land policy including establishment of a semi-autonomous Lands and Surveys Commission,
• Small Business Legislation
• and tax reform.

To date, twenty one (21) of these twenty eight (28) specific agreements have been achieved.

I want us to, therefore, begin by reflecting for a few moments on why we are all here today sitting in this magnificent new conference centre – A representation of the modern Guyana which we all want. Take a few moments, look around the room at your fellow colleagues. We are all working in different ways to further the economic development of our nation.

I will tell you why I think we are all here today; “partnership.”

• We recognise that only by working together in genuine partnership can we surmount the competitive challenges to our economic development.
• We recognise that only by working together can we devise the necessary collective solutions to these common challenges which face us.
• Also I think we are all here today because we recognise that only by working together can we turn “words into action” and continue to contribute to improving the welfare of our people.

Partnership Process

Back in July last year, the Office of the President in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce released the first draft policy discussion paper on competitiveness. That document set out the Government’s initial assessment of the actions necessary to deliver a step-change in building a regionally and globally competitive economy. Since the publication of this paper, the Government, the private sector and our friends from the donor community, have worked in partnership to further improve the draft strategy.

The process to date has been led by a number of groups including:

• A Government Cabinet Steering Committee chaired by myself and supported by a strong inter-governmental technical team
• The Private Sector Commission’s Trade and Investment Sub-Committee;
• An interim public-private Steering Committee composed of representatives of the Office of the President, MINTIC, and the PSC.
• And, a donor group dialogue.

The process has been guided by a number of commonly agreed principles based on the need to be as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. It has also sought to be a process driven by fact, not anecdote and has been a conversation open to anybody who wished to join. It has also been a process that has been expanded in phases to include and actively encourage more and more players as we have moved along. The process has involved a number of crucial steps, which have ranged from the engagement of professional consultancy teams - in key areas of policy; to public-private focus groups and round table discussions with senior members of Government and key business leaders.

Results of the Partnership

Wave one (1) of the conversation is now complete. I think I can speak for all those involved in the process when I say that it has been seen by many as a resoundingly fruitful. I know that Mr. Mike Correia, who has been a key figure from the private sector in helping to steer the partnership process, has commented himself that such wide consultations between the Government and private sector have not been seen since the National Development Strategy.

We all thus have a lot to be proud of.

You may ask then, be proud of what?

• What have been the results of this partnership process?
• What did my participation at a focus group or round table meeting really achieve?
• How will my many hours away from my business help to ultimately deliver results in the form of more jobs, more exports, and more investment for Guyana’s economy?

The process has led to three things.

Number one, a new draft of the National Competitiveness Strategy is out which is not Government, not private sector, not donor, BUT Guyana-led. Better than before, the document sets out a set of policies and actions ready for implementation and a set of policy recommendations for further consideration. Turning “words into action” is already being fulfilled. The National Competitiveness Strategy identifies one hundred and twenty two (122) actions which are already in action or just waiting to go. Furthermore, the National Competitiveness Strategy is not only useful for mobilising resources behind strategic initiatives critical for enhancing our competitiveness, but it is a useful resource for investors looking for the answers to unlock potential in strategic areas of opportunity. We already have in the pipeline institutional measures which will ensure that, in the same way that the competitive environment is constantly changing, that our National Competitiveness Strategy also constantly evolves and becomes a living, breathing document.

Two, a new flagship program, the Support for Competitiveness Program funded by our friends at the IDB, is now almost completely designed following the partnership process. This will take forward twenty seven (27) of the planned major actions outlined in the National Competitiveness Strategy. Crucially the program will help to ensure that the capacity to formulate and implement the National Competitiveness Strategy on an on-going basis is expeditiously put in place. It will also help to improve the general business climate and environment for private sector investment through measures;

• to improve the business friendliness of the tax system
• to reduce the time to clear customs
• to reduce the time for business registration
• to improve access to finance
• to promote and encourage fair local and regional competition and a fair deal for consumers through support for setting up the new Competition and Fair Trading Commission and Consumer Protection Commission.

The program will also helps to boost local and foreign direct investment through strengthening GoInvest’s effectiveness in areas of investment promotion, facilitation, country image-building and export promotion. This IDB programme will enhance the ability of our firms to compete and win in the global market place through a fund to help them overcome constraints affecting their competitiveness.

Third, through the process we have taken together, considerable consensus has been built which recognises that for partnership to really work, a set of sustainable institutions are needed that will enable all stakeholders to take part in the partnership process - thus the formation of the National Competitiveness Council. This will include Government, the private sector, organised labour, Members of Parliament, wider civil society, and Guyana’s development partners from the donor community. An agreement was signed on Thursday in the presence of the President by HPS, Dr. Roger Luncheon on the Government’s behalf and the Chairman of the PSC, Yesu Persaud on behalf of the Private Sector. This will pave the way for the establishment of a permanent platform for partnership, something which has never been achieved in our nation’s history.

The National Competitiveness Council provides for a twelve (12) member body representing the Government, the private sector and organized labour. The Private Sector Commission has agreed that private sector representation must be based on the inclusion of not only our large business interests, but also that of smaller businesses and all regions of Guyana. The National Competitiveness Council is poised to act as the central point of public-private leadership for the National Competitiveness Strategy. It will oversee and co-ordinate ongoing strategy formulation. It will ensure that the goals of the strategy are adhered to and policies and program are implemented. And it will ensure that the results are adequately monitored. Furthermore, I can also announce today that our friends in the donor community have committed to work towards the setting up of a formal donor harmonization group on issues affecting private sector development. This “Partnership” is working closely with the donor community to make this vision and strategy a reality.

Closing: Power of Partnership

In order to highlight the power of true partnership, I would like to briefly reflect on one of the most powerful spin’s offs of the process we have undertaken together. I have been delighted to have seen over recent months the progress made by key business and public sector leaders in our aquaculture sector. The blossoming of this sector is a fitting tribute to the memory, vision, passion, and dedication of the late Minister of Fisheries, Other Crops, and Livestock, Sash Sawh. The sprit of collaboration shown by this group is now propelling forward a new public-private initiative which I am confident pave the way for the sustained expansion of the aquaculture sector in Guyana. I know Mr Beni Sankaar has much more to announce on this later, but I think this illustrates the true power of partnership and is an example to us all of what can be achieved if we continue to work together in the spirit of good faith as we embark on the next stage of our journey.

I want to finish by expressing my thanks and appreciation to the private sector and the donor community for working with me over the past seven (7) months. I am confident that this National Competitiveness Strategy and the power of partnership will be one of the most significant contributions to our future national development and to uplifting the standard of living of the Guyanese people.

Thank you