A high level conference on economic growth and development got underway at the Fort Young Hotel on Friday March 15, 2013.
Several stakeholders including members of the private and public sectors and civil society have gathered to talk about the key factors that have the greatest potential to increase growth in Dominica and the rest of the Caribbean.
The special meeting to sensitize the public on the Caribbean Growth Forum initiative is part of a two-year regional platform which will take into consideration the economic challenges facing small island states in the region.
Participants will discuss ways to strengthen the investment climate, upgrade education and develop skills, improve competitiveness and generate higher paying jobs.
They will also discuss key actions needed to improve logistics and connectivity especially by making key infrastructure like information technology, transportation and electricity more affordable and efficient.
Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Rosamund Edwards says, “It is an opportunity for the public to contribute to the identification of specific activities and actions that can be undertaken towards the implementation of a growth strategy…”
A number of partners attended the launching ceremony of the Caribbean Growth Conference in Dominica on Friday. Partners included the Caribbean Development Bank, the European Union, the World Bank, the Inter American Development Bank and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.
Edwards said the Government of Dominica endorses the meeting.
“The Government fully supports the initiative and expresses its gratitude to the development partners. Government’s growth strategy is outlined in the country’s Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS) which has been approved by the Cabinet and tabled in the Parliament, so that is expected to be a good platform for the discussions,” she stated.
Fifteen Caribbean countries are said to participate in the first phase of the Caribbean Growth Forum initiative.
Upon completion, an action plan will be produced and will include concrete policy recommendations to be implemented by each country.