A Cabinet Minister used a panel discussion at the Caribbean Growth Forum’s regional workshop to press the case for education and skills development.
Ryan Pinder, minister of financial services, called for enhanced strategies to increase the Caribbean’s global competitiveness, and boost job creation, in the linked services and manufacturing sectors.
Mr Pinder described the need for innovation as it relates to developing ‘value-added strategies’ that partner industries, such as manufacturing and services.
“As we witness the evolution of industries like manufacturing and agriculture, we are witnessing movement to a services-based economy and development of professional services throughout,” said Mr Pinder.
“We [the Bahamas] have developed a value-added trade strategy. The Bahamas has always been a very sophisticated area in services. Other regional countries are coming along and creating services-based economies,”
Mr Pinder described the need for private sector and government partnerships to further develop training and skills development.
“We cannot allow the sophistication of our industries to advance faster than the sophistication of our people. Innovation should never be in isolation of our people. The Government cannot do it alone and it must be a partnership with the private sector to further develop the technical capacity of our people,” he added.
The panel further discussed the priority for job creation throughout the region. Mr Pinder said: “There is a need for change in the mindset from being job seekers to job creators.
“Our economy now calls for the creation and promotion of small and mid-sized businesses. Instead of looking for a job, one must have the opportunity to create their own business and create jobs.
“By the end of this year, the Bahamas Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development legislation will be implemented with the proper agencies to develop entrepreneurial efforts and skills bases.”
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