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Government Reiterates Its Pledge To Create Business Friendly Environment

October 16, 2003

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Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill has reiterated the government’s commitment to create a business friendly environment that was conducive to increased investment and productivity. He was speaking at the 33rd Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition of the Caribbean Shipping Association at the Half Moon Hotel and Conference Centre, Rose Hall, Montego Bay. The Minister officially declared the three-day conference open on Monday (October 13).
Over 270 delegates from 24 countries are attending the conference, which is being held under the theme: ‘Providing a medium for economic development and increased competitiveness’. The Caribbean Shipping Association is a regional multinational association of private and public sector interest, representing the maritime industry of the Caribbean region.
Mr. Pickersgill said that the government was moving ahead expeditiously in a collaborative project with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce on a project called the Regulations, Legislation and Process Improvement Project, referred to as ‘Regs and Legs’.
“The Regulations, Legislation and Process Improvement Project, was conceived by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce. It is a collaborative effort between the Chamber, on behalf of the private sector, and the Government of Jamaica, and is funded by the USAID,” he informed.
Regs and Legs is intended to remove constraints faced by businesses, whether such constraints are of a regulatory, legislative, or process procedural nature, the Minister added.
Continuing, he said that the first phase of the project has been concentrating on the process improvements, which did not require any legislative or regulatory changes. He said that it complemented initiatives that were already leading to significant improvements in efficiencies in several service areas in the public sector, naming the Office of the Registrar of Companies and the National Land Agency as two such areas.
With respect to the shipping industry, the Transport and Works Minister mentioned Jamaica Trade Point, an electronic trade facilitating system to become fully operational shortly, which would function as a single source for all trade-related activities in Jamaica. He said that when this system became fully operational it would serve as a one-stop trade facilitation portal.
“This e-government initiative comprises six partners; Jamaica Customs; Jamaica Promotions; The Trade Board; the Port Authority of Jamaica; the Shipping Association of Jamaica; and Fiscal Services Limited, with the latter being the technology partner and developer of the total system,” he said.

Last Updated: October 16, 2003

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