Officers from Agriculture Ministry Benefit from Training in Business Facilitation

Senior officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands are participating in a two-day business facilitation training programme, as part of government’s effort to create a more business friendly environment within the public sector.
“The objective includes a change in the attitudes, behaviour, systems and procedures throughout the Jamaican public sector to achieve a friendlier business environment,” said Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, at this morning’s (Aug.15) opening ceremony held at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.
“It is a response to the government of Jamaica’s recognition of the crucial need to reduce bureaucratic red tape that retards the process of business investments in Jamaica,” he added.
Director of Human Resource Management in the Ministry, Jeanette Hylton, explained that the training programme was designed to sensitize senior officers to the importance of business facilitation.
“It is expected that participants will be able to identify and eliminate some of the negative mind sets that impede the national effort to improve business facilitation, and to identify the critical processes involved in developmental approvals and business facilitation,” she said.
She said that at the end of the training, participants should “demonstrate customer service skills and attitudes guaranteed to exceed customer satisfaction and to create a more customer friendly business environment”.
The training course is being conducted by the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) and topics covered are: business facilitation and the national economy; importance of foreign direct investments; the impact of change on individuals and organizations; the role of the government of Jamaica ministries/agencies in business facilitation; the role of regulations in business facilitation; and managing change and customer service.
“Participants will be awarded a certificate of participation upon completion of the course and based on at least 80 percentage attendance, because we want everybody to participate and benefit from the programme,” said Jacqueline Wallder, Director of Learning at MIND.
The programme is being sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, through the Agriculture and Support Services Project.