Industry Minister charges agencies to think out of the box

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Audley Shaw (centre), speaking at a virtual meeting
with Heads of Agencies at the Ministry's New Kingston offices on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. At fourth right is Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Dr. Norman Dunn. Others from left are Chief Technical Director, Michelle Parkins; Permanent Secretary Dermon Spence; Senior Director, Industry Division, Sophia Wellington; Trade Specialist, Trade Division, Daenia Ashpole; and Director, Commerce Division, Krishna Badaloo​. The meeting was held to discuss objectives and the way forward for the Ministry and its Agencies. The Agencies highlighted and gave an overview of their subject areas. ​

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, has charged agencies under the Ministry to start thinking out of the box and to be more creative in how they do business in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want all of you as heads of agencies to recognize the important role that you play. For all of us, our mission must be to make it easier to do business in Jamaica,” Minister Shaw said, while addressing a virtual Heads of Agency meeting at his New Kingston offices on Wednesday, September 23.

“Every agency in this ministry must commit to serving our customers in an efficient and expeditious way in order to get on with business, get on with life, create jobs and create wealth. To achieve this in the middle of COVID-19, we have to be creative, and think out of the box,” said Minister Shaw.

He noted further that “the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic is a seed of greater benefit for us to refocus, to be more efficient and to be more facilitatory to our clients”.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Dr. Norman Dunn, who was introduced to the Heads of Agency, said that “he was happy to be placed in the Ministry to work along Minister Shaw. I have met with the great staff of MIIC and I am looking forward to a great working relationship”.

“We are at a critical juncture in Jamaica’s history and the mantra is not just living with COVID-19 but recovering stronger. I think there is so much opportunity now irrespective of the status of the pandemic that we can in fact take advantage of. I believe there is no reason why areas such as manufacturing, investment and commerce cannot do well,” Minister Dunn said.

He continued that the pandemic will really show us who the star performers are, who the efficient persons are and, which agencies can ride through the storm, ensuring that Jamaica comes out stronger at the end.

“Jamaica is depending on you, the agencies, who are critical to our recovery,” he added.

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