Advancing the Manufacturing Sector

(ZIZ News) – The leading men and women in the manufacturing sector in St. Kitts and Nevis came together on Wednesday to discuss their challenges and the way forward.

This was done at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) Manufacturers’ Luncheon.

Minister responsible for International Trade and Industry, the Hon. Lindsay Grant gave his support of the proposed National Manufacturing Strategy, which he says can help move the sector forward.

The top priority areas identified in the strategy are the business environment; technology and foreign direct investment; natural resources; clustering and supply chain management; energy; human resource development; occupational safety and health; export processing zones; and enhancing exports.

“We have put in place one of the key recommendations in the strategy and that is, we have established a desk and we have identified a Technical Officer within the Ministry with responsibility for Manufacturing and Industry…her name is Dorothia Jefferson,” he said.

Minister Grant said other actions to assist the industry are being put in place, including the establishment of the Manufacturing Competitive Council.

“The main duties of the council include the following: 1) to provide guidance to manufacturing operators, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Manufacturing Division of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce and other like-minded private sector agencies in (a); the implementation of the six overarching goals of the action plan outlined in the national manufacturing strategy and (b); maintaining focus on the ten priority areas that identified earlier,” he explained.

The CIC Manufacturers’ Luncheon was held at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI) Conference Room.