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 4. Summary of action sessions
 5. Lessons learned for next year's...
 6. Next Steps






Title: Presidential summit on private sector development : Turning words into action
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 Material Information
Title: Presidential summit on private sector development : Turning words into action
Physical Description: Book
Creator: Guyana. Government Information Agency (GINA).
Publication Date: 2006
 Subjects
Subject: Development
Private sector
Caribbean   ( lcsh )
Spatial Coverage: South America -- Guyana -- Georgetown
Caribbean
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Bibliographic ID: UF00084204
Volume ID: VID00001
Source Institution: University of Florida
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Table of Contents
    Front Cover
        Page 1
    Table of Contents
        Page 2
    1. Overall results of the Summit
        Page 3
    2. Origins and objectives of the Summit
        Page 4
    3. Commitment and action: nine action teams
        Page 5
    4. Summary of action sessions
        Page 6
        Page 7
        Page 8
        Page 9
        Page 10
        Page 11
        Page 12
        Page 13
        Page 14
        Page 15
    5. Lessons learned for next year's Summit - Feedback
        Page 16
    6. Next Steps
        Page 17
Full Text





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Presidential Summit on
Private Sector Development
"Turning Words into Action"


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Executive Summary

Internal tina I v-,jle nti' C r .enter
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Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


CONTENTS




EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: RESULTS FROM THE SUMMIT

1. Overall Results of the Sum mit ........................................................................................ 3

2. Origins and Objectives of the Summit ................................................................................ 4

3. Commitment and Action: Nine Action Teams.............................................................5

4. Sum m ary of A action Sessions ................................................................................................. 6
Scoring Big from Cricket W orld Cup .................................. ...................................... 6
Aquaculture: Making More from Your Investment .....................................................7
Call Centers and Contract Manufacturing: Developing Islands of Competitiveness ............8
Tapping the Resources of the Diaspora for Guyana's Development...................... ......... 10
Creating Brain Gain: Attracting New Skills and Retaining our Boldest and Brightest......... 11
Financing for Guyana's Future: Addressing the Liquidity Challenge .................................. 12
Maximising the Benefits of the CSME ................................. ......... ................ 13
Making the Five Year Tourism Development Plan Happen........................................ 14
Guyana's Next Agricultural Frontier: Non-Traditional Agricultural Products ............... 15

5. Lessons Learned for Next Year's Summit Feedback................................ ............. 16

6. N ext Steps ............................................................................................................................. 17






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


1. Overall Results of the Summit


On May 8th, 2006, Guyana's leaders took a major step forward by creating a collaborative public-
private partnership to accelerate the country's economic development.
On May 8th, more than 300 public and private sector leaders
came together at the Presidential Summit on Private Sector
Development to discuss Guyana's new economic
competitiveness strategy and identify action initiatives to
accelerate Guyana's economic growth. The Summit provided
an opportunity for leaders to culminate intensive collaborative
work that has taken place over the past seven months to enrich
Guyana's National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) a living
changing strategy which charts a successful course forward for
Guyana based on a ground-breaking partnership between the
Government and private sector.

The Presidential Summit established 9 Action Teams and generated more than 50 Action Initiatives to
achieve a more competitive economy.
The Summit's initial plenary session saw the showing of a video outlining the
partnership approach to the development of the NCS. This was followed by
keynote speeches delivered by the Minister of Tourism, Industry and
Commerce, Hon. Manzoor Nadir, Vice Chairman of the Private Sector
Commission, Mr Mike Correia, CEO of GoInvest, Geoff DaSilva, and a
keynote address by His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo. Following this,
groups of public and private sector leaders from nine Action Teams worked
with participants to develop more than 50 Action Initiatives, to enhance and
evolve the National Competitiveness Strategy in key areas. These nine areas
included:
1. Scoring Big from Cricket World Cup
2. Aquaculture: Making More from Your Investment
3. Call Centers and Contract Manufacturing: Developing Islands of Competitiveness
4. Guyana's Next Agricultural Frontier: Non-Traditional Agricultural Products:
5. Tapping the Resources of the Diaspora for Guyana's Development
6. Creating "Brain Gain" Building a Brighter Future for Guyana
7. Financing for Guyana's Future: Addressing the Liquidity Challenge
8. CSME: An Opportunity for Guyana to Jump On Board
9. A New Vision for Guyana Tourism 2010: The Five Year Tourism Development Plan

The Competitiveness Action Committee-a team of 15 committed private and public leaders-will lead
and oversee follow-up and oversee on-going implementation of the action initiatives.
A committed group of public and private sector leaders-with the staff support from the Ministry of
Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Go-Invest, and the PSC-have volunteered to lead the follow-up
process to support and ensure on-going implementation of the action initiatives until the National
Competitiveness Council and supporting institutions are established.


P4






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


2. Origins and Objectives of the Summit

Origins
During the National Competitiveness Strategy consultations of the past eight months beginning in
September 2005, many stakeholders throughout Guyana in particular members of the private sector -
expressed a strong desire to see a Presidential Summit take place early this year. Almost everyone who
stated a view wanted to see a follow-up to the 1999 Presidential Summit, widely seen as an enormous
success. The Summit was therefore a response to requests from many private sector stakeholders to follow
up on the 1999 Presidential Summit.

Objectives
1. Highlighting Progress in "Turning Words into Action:" To highlight the progress made in the
public- private "national conversation" that commenced September 2005, and to generate more
momentum behind it, emphasizing the idea of turning words into action i.e. that the
consultations to date have resulted in plans for real action. For example, a MoU was signed on
May 4th, 2006 between the Government and Private Sector Commission which will pave the way
for the setting up of a National Competitiveness Council. Moreover, a new flagship program, the
Support for Competitiveness Program, is now almost completely designed following the
partnership process.

2. Catalyzing Dialogue on Competitiveness Related Issues: To motivate more people to take part
in the national conversation on competitiveness issues by highlighting the positive recent
developments that have taken place e.g. the partnership approach adopted between the
Government and private sector, the Guyana-led approach to crafting the National Competitiveness
Strategy, the practical implications of some of the new competitiveness related programmes.

3. Cementing Progress in Strengthening Public-Private Dialogue: An opportunity to cement the
progress made to date on strengthening public-private dialogue in Guyana (described by the PSC
as "the most extensive consultation since the NDS.....setting the stage for national unity.").

4. Platform to Launch Specific Initiatives: A platform to launch specific initiatives to enhance
Guyana's national competitiveness, e.g. the "Doing Business in Guyana" guide for investors; the
IDB-funded Support for Competitiveness Programme, announcement of the Government and
Private Sector Commission's support for the establishment of the National Competitiveness
Council.

5. Expanding the National Conversation: An opportunity to expand what His Excellency,
President Jagdeo refers to as the "national conversation" about competitiveness issues by raising
its public profile. This will hopefully encourage organized labour, Members of Parliament, and
civil society representatives to join the Government and Private Sector in analysing
competitiveness issues, and making recommendations for action into the future.

6. Move to Further Action: A leadership group was formed to follow-up on implementation of the
initiatives developed at and prior to the Summit.






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


3. Commitment and Action: Nine Action Teams

Following the initial Summit plenary, a set of high-level public and private sector leaders from nine
Action Teams worked with the help of facilitators to develop more than 50 Action Initiatives, to enhance
and evolve the National Competitiveness Strategy in key areas.

Objectives and Selection ofAction Areas

The overall objective of each session was to identify a set of practical steps that could be taken by key
public and private sector leaders to turn the "words" of the National Competitiveness Strategy into
"action," and so meaningfully contribute to furthering the economic development and competitiveness of
Guyana.

The nine areas were selected in the weeks leading up to the Summit on the basis of a number of
consultative meetings with high-level public and private sector stakeholders. Areas were selected taking
into account a multitude of different considerations. Among these considerations included:

Strengthening the National Competitiveness Strategy: Some action areas, such as tapping into
the resources of the Diaspora and creating brain gain, were selected mainly to help not only in
mobilizing leaders to act now, but also to help improve on the policy recommendations of the
National Competitiveness Strategy in those areas recognized as needing more work.

Visible Short Term Impact: Areas such as the Cricket World Cup were selected because they
represent a fixed definitive event with important short term opportunities attached. It was felt that
if public and private sector leaders could be more rapidly mobilized towards preparing for the
event and understanding the wide gambit of opportunities available, then this would help ensure
that the benefit to Guyana from hosting the event is maximized. This is also true of the CSME.

Bringing Existing Strategic Plans to Life: Some action areas such as tourism, non-traditional
agriculture, aquaculture, and contract manufacturing/call centres, and access to finance were
selected because they already have strong strategic plans in place and a vision for moving the
sector/area forward. What the sessions were designed to do was to now mobilize public and
private stakeholders in taking action towards delivering on the objectives of those strategic plans.
It is only via personal commitments to action by committed leaders can strategic plans truly be
expected to deliver the envisaged bottom line results in terms of jobs, exports, and investment for
Guyana.

Cross-cutting Areas: Areas such as Maximizing the Opportunities from CSME were chosen
because they cut across many of the actions and recommendations of the NCS and action and
commitment is now required in these areas on a multitude of different fronts to take advantage of
the opportunities that the CSME is presenting for Guyana.

The public-private team chosen to lead each action area at the Summit were engaged in the weeks leading
up to the Summit and each made personal commitments to present at the Summit and help drive
participants towards making commitments to action.






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


4. Summary of Action Sessions

The following section provides a short summary of each action session. The detailed action initiatives
developed by each team are outlined in Part II of the report.


Scoring Big from Cricket World Cup


With the coming of Cricket World u-
Cup to Guyana in March 2007,
Guyana has the opportunity to
create a significantly boost the
economy, strengthen trade and
investment linkages, upgrade and i ....i
promote tourism services, and
present the Cricket world with a modem image of Guyana. The "Scoring Big from Cricket World Cup"
Action Team is committed to identifying and implementing a wide range of action initiative that will help
people and businesses of Guyana to become aware of, prepare for, and make the most of this important
event.

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
Minister Tony Xavier provided an update that Guyana is making good progress
preparing for the Cup: the stadium, hotels, other facilities. It was pointed out
that the legacy of Cricket World Cup in Guyana will remain long after the
event, and that the skills that are acquired, facilities that are built and improved
will be used to upgrade Guyana as a tourist attraction. Terry Holder pointed out
that there is a sense of urgency that people must be aware of. This event will
not be postponed; the first ball will be bowled on March 28, 2007.
The more prepared you are, the more likely you will make money.
Guyana needs to take advantage of this opportunity to work on
improving "tourism hospitality", orientation to customer service, and
other attributes. Karan Singh said that it is critical that we get to
ACTION. He indicated that were many strategic areas for Guyanese
businesses and eo le to take advantage of this opportunity, including
providing accommodations (e.g., bed
& breakfast, tenting, hotels, all the way to cruise ships); transportation
services; tour and travel within Georgetown and throughout the country;
catering, restaurants, food booths; licensing and merchandising
Gifts/Souvenirs, Games and Leisure, Music, Selected Foods, Collectors
Items, Apparel and Accessories, Art and Culture, Publications,
Stationary, Homewares, Sporting); training; airport, access to finance.

3. Key Initiatives Identified
Initiative Leaders of the Initiative
Guyana Festival of Arts & Crafts Ms. Indra Gobind
ATMs for Guyana Visitors Mr. John Tracy
Taking Back the Environment Mr. Terry Holder
Guyana Handcraft Extravaganza Ms. Avril Boston
A Safe and Secure Guyana: Sending Crime to Hell Mr. Balraj Balram
Coordinating Transportation for World Cup Ms. Linda Wray
New Image 2007 Mr. Grantly Culbard
Discover Guyana Mr. Vijay Datadin






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


Switching to Plastic Mr. Oscar Phillips, Mr. Standford Mr.
Solomon, Mr. John Tracy
Courtesy a Must Mr. Troy Pearson, Mr. Wilfred
Brandsford, Ms. Mitra Devi Ali
The Guyana Flower Show 2007 Mr. Faria

4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
The "Scoring Big from Cricket World Cup" Action Team -
under the leadership of Terry Holder, Minister Tony Xavier,
and Karan Singh will meet monthly to review and support
progress on the action initiatives.



5. Leadership Team
Private Public Facilitators
Terry Holder (GMAS) Min. Tony Xavier (Youth Culture Dr. Eric Hansen (ETG)
Vic Insanally (GuyEnterprise) Sport) Felicia Forde (Mintic)
Norman McLean (GMAS) Karan Singh (CWC Local Organizing
William Bransford (Bransville Apts) Commitee)
Elisabeth Hughes (Craft Industry) Nikolaus Oudkerk (CWC LOC)


Aquaculture: Making More from Your Investment


1. Focus of the Action Team
The Aquaculture Action Team focused on analyzing interventions to help the development of the nascent
aquaculture sector. Interventions were focused on achieving sustainable exports by taking advantage of
competitive advantages enjoyed by Guyana. The Aquaculture Action Team was largely driven by the
leaders from the newly established Guyana Aquaculture Association, which has been meeting regularly
since February 2006.

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


Growth of Tilapia and Shrimp for both commercial and
small farmers
Access to Finance
Potential Markets
Industry Information Networking
Access to the Existing Processing, Marketing and
Exporting Chain
Build Upon Existing Aquaculture Research and Training
Resources

3. Key Initiatives Identified


Initiative Leaders of the Initiative
Securing Markets Now!! D. Griffith (AAG)
Centralisation of Marketing and Export Information AAG & Golnvest
Training for Commercial Aquaculture Salim Azeez (New Line Aqua Farms)
Technology and Equipment Pool Beni Sankar (AAG)
Processing Guidelines H. Dharmo (Trawlers Association)
Financial Reform Beni Sankar (AAG)
Aquaponics Integration in Aquaculture J. Paltoo (IAST)
Fish and Food For Profit AAG and MoA

4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
All further steps will be coordinated by the Aquaculture Association
Prioritise and combine initiatives by relevance.
Follow up Leaders of Key Initiatives to Insure Implementation

5. Leadership Team
Private Public Facilitators
Beni Sankar (GABA & AAG) Tejnarine Geer (MoA) Sean O'Leary (MoA)
Salim Azeez (New Line Aqua) Mr. Profit (Golnvest)
Sheik Rahman (Guyana Aqua Farms) Mr. Seepersaud (MoA)
Mr Carpin (East Coast Aquaculture)
Dr. Chin (IPED)
Mr. Mohees (Private)


1 '-_ w u rllllllifl l 1l --U m r r
1. Focus of the Action Team
Accelerating the development of Call Centers and Contract Manufacturing in Guyana to deliver sustained
economic growth, more jobs, more exports, and more investment for Guyana. Already Guyana is showing
signs of strong competitiveness in call centers with the recent emergence and growth of four call centers.
Similarly, contract manufacturing operations like the DenMor clothing manufacturer with over 1,000
employees and supplying major clothing companies such as Victoria Secrets, Russell Athletics, etc. have
8






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


strong promise for growth and expansion in Guyana, especially if specialized export processing zones can
be established to reduce red tape and costs and provide attractive facilities to attract new investment.

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
the creation of information technology parks and export
processing zones
the creation of small and medium enterprises business
incubators
the establishment of a special "desk" at Customs to deal with sl
manufacturers 1 o-ipSA
the processing of manufacturers Customs entries on-line and re"mpf
within 24 hours M
spare parts imported for the use of existing manufacturing
equipment should be duty free
the implementation of specialized "crash" courses at GTI, UG
etc.
enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Education's Work Study
Programme
aggressively market Guyana as a destination for contract
manufacturing and call centers
acquire professional trainers to train local staff

3. Key Initiatives Identified

Initiative Leaders of the Initiative
Establishment of a regional skill training programme with grant Mr. Dennis Morgan
funding from the government
Establishment of customs desk for Manufacturers Mr. Andrew Thome
The implementation of specialized "crash" courses at GTI, UG etc. Mr. Dennis Morgan

The creation of information technology parks, export processing Ms. Kathleen Whalen
zones and SME incubators


4. Leadership Team






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


Tapping the Resources of the Diaspora for Guyana's Development
I ;& __ --r _wr-__


1. Focus of the Action Team
Tapping the Resources of the Diaspora for Guyana's Development. Our global Diaspora is a treasure
trove of investors, tourism boosters, leading edge knowledge/technology contributors, and ambassadors
for Guyana. The Action team worked to develop practical ways to harvest these resources .

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
Engaging the Diaspora to convey our new vision for Guyana promoting a positive image of Guyana
abroad;
Involving the Diaspora in the promotion of trade, tourism and investment:
Tourism packages and promoting indigenous products
O Establishment of joint Business Councils in key capitals
Regular dissemination of information relating to market and trade strategies
Creation of a Business Development Fund/Investment Fund to help develop local businesses
Harnessing contributions from remittances for development projects;
Building a database of skills and expertise:
o Mobilising Professional Associations
Locating the Diaspora using network approaches
Providing the Diaspora with a satisfactory degree of confidence through transparency and
accountability with regard to their contributions and encouraging them to invest in national
development projects:
O Investment bonds, for example, in infrastructure projects
O Investments in community projects linking the economic with the social development helping
to create employment
Formation of a High Level Committee to discuss firm proposals for structured involvement of
the Diaspora in the national development process and to oversee their implementation
Formation of a Diaspora Unit comprising public and private sector representatives
Convening Conferences on a regular basis

3. Key Initiatives Identified


Initiative
Establishment of Joint Business Councils
Mobilising Professional Associations
Establishment of a Joint Public/Private Sector High Level Committee to
develop a strategy for a structured relationship with the Diaspora


Leaders of the Initiative
Mr Gerry Gouveia
Dr Prem Misir
Elisabeth Harper






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
The Action Team met on May 10 to develop proposals to carry forward the abovementioned initiatives.
Mr. Gerry Gouveia and Dr. Eric Hansen conducted a Guyana-Canada Diaspora Competitiveness Summit
in Toronto on May 19, 2006, carrying forward the initiatives from the Presidential Summit to the Diaspora
in Canada. A Memo of Understanding between the Guyana-Canada Chamber of Commerce and the
Private Sector Commission was signed opening up
the channels for further collaboration and linkages
between Guyana and the Canadian Diaspora.




5. Leadership Team

Private Public Facilitators
Mr Gery Gouveia Dr Prem Misir s Myan Baker
Mr Geoff Da Silva Dr Nanda Gopaul
Mrs Elisabeth Harper
Mr Neil Persram




Creating Brain Gain: Attracting New Skills and Retaining our Boldest
and Brightest

1. Focus of the Action Team
Guyana has been losing skills rapidly in recent years
and is ranked second as the country suffering the
highest level of skill loss in the region, after
Suriname. An IMF study showed that 86% of
degree Guyanese emigrate. The National
Competitiveness Strategy offers an opportunity for
the public and private sector to come up with
strategies to address the human resources needs of I II
Guyana in a tangible and meaningful way.

The Action Team was tasked with coming up with a
set of initiatives which could over the next six
months see the formation of policies to create a pool of skilled resources to develop Guyana and
champions of these initiatives were to be identified.

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
Minister of Education, Henry Jeffrey and businessman, Clifford Reis
addressed the action team on the possible solutions they saw. Jeffrey
spoke of the need for a labour market/manpower study which looks
at the gap analysis between what are the skill requirements of
strategic growth industries and gearing the education and technical
and vocational systems to produce these. Reis spoke of the need for
companies offering training to their staff to collaborate instead of
compete for skills; for incentives to be provided to graduates and for
international and regional initiatives to provide for the awarding of
contracts to Guyanese businesses. Harnessing technology to make
11






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


use of the internet and established job sites to find skills, creating a virtual labour pool; changing
immigration requirements to make citizenship easy and improving on CSME tract of a free movement of
skills to attract skills from outside of the region; building pride in Guyanese to stop bad mouthing Guyana
and to market the positive values of living in Guyana; exploring incentives to retain and attract skills,
including the reinstitution of a market supplement for key and critical skills, and improving the
entrepreneurial training programme by having established businessmen address certain modules were all
explored.

3. Key Initiatives Identified

Initiative Leaders of the Initiative
1. Skill Gap analysis to create a data base Minister Dale Bisnauth
2. Immigration Law change To be determined
3. Web based recruiting Minister Henry Jeffrey
4. Short term retention programme Mark Bynoe
5. Incentivising graduates Mark Bynoe
6. Entrepreneurial training Sattaur Gafoor

4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
The Action Team Leaders will meet to provide direction for initiative implementation.


5. Leadership Team
Private Public Facilitators
Clifford Reis Minister Henry Jeffrey Gitanjali Singh
Ramesh Dookhoo Joanna Homer


Financing for Guyana's Future: Addressing the Liquidity Challenge

1. Focus of the Action Team
The action team addressed the problem of how to
enable businesses to access finance at a reduced
cost. It was agreed that there is excess liquidity in
the banking system and the group addressed the
problem of why this liquidity was not being
channeled into the productive sectors.

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
The discussion focused on three areas; the supply
side the willingness of the banking sector to lend,
the demand side the skills of businesses in
accessing finance, and the regulatory environment.
On this supply side, it was noted that banks
willingness to lend and the terms they lend on are heavily influenced by the high levels of default in the
past. Solutions must therefore be tailored to reducing the likelihood of default (better risk assessment via
Credit Bureau, improving information disclosure by businesses under Companies Act) and making it
easier for banks to collect in the event of default (improved commercial dispute resolution).

On the demand side, it was agreed that businesses have trouble in preparing the necessary information to
access finance and these skills need improving through training and capacity building (improving business
12






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


plan skills). It was also agreed that businesses can develop through the use of equity finance, along side
debt finance, and as such there was discussion of improving the stock market.

3. Key Initiatives Identified

Initiative Leaders of the Initiative
Establish a Credit Bureau Maria Van Beek (MinFin)
Improve Business Plan Skills Lindel Harlequin (DFLSA)
Improve Commercial Dispute Resolution Tonia Griffith (Citizens Bank)
Expansion of the Stock Market Patrick Van Beek (CAFS)
Improve Companies Act Compliance To be determined
Encourage Lending to Small Businesses To be determined


4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
A team will be formed around each action initiative. Each
team will meet separately to examine each of the issues in
more detail and to agree on the steps necessary to improve
the current position in Guyana. As far as possible these
teams will commit their own time and resources to the
solutions. However, where necessary the Government will
also be called upon to provide financial backing and
legislative change.

5. Leadership Team


Private Public Facilitators
R. K. Sharma (GBTI) Lawrence Williams (BoG) Ed Humphrey (MinFin)
Prakash Dhanrajh (DFL Trinidad) Ramnarine Lal (BoG) Derise Williams(MinTIC)
Lindel Harlequin (DFLSA)
Patrick Van Beek (CAFS)



Maximising the Benefits of the CSME


1. Focus of the Action Team
The Action Team focused its discussions on how
best to take advantage of the opportunities that
would be available to Guyanese businesspersons
under the CSME and looked at ways to ensuring
that the rights accorded were not restricted because
of the presence of non-tariff barriers.


KI IB-
Asallelr


2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
The need was recognized for wider I C XS
dissemination of information on the CSME to ""
ensure that a wide-cross section of persons were .
made aware of the benefits of the CSME. The
Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation made a brief presentation as did the
representative from the CARICOM Secretariat. There was recognition of the need to eliminate
existing barriers to trade to ensure the smooth operation of the CSME. The President highlighted
the possibility of the establishment of a Unit that would investigation breaches of existing treaty






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


arrangements (not limited to the CSME). The group thought there was a need for further
development of and investment in the services sector while others supported the call for
exploration of opportunities existing in bilateral agreements. Other action team members saw the
opportunity to develop a line of branded Guyanese products and linking with other sectors, such
as tourism, to distribute their line to tourists.

3. Key Initiatives Identified
Initiative Leaders of the Initiative
Investing in the Services Aneesha Rahaman-Allie/Mr.
Patrick Walker
Removing the Barriers
Gaining from Bilaterals Alicia Reid/Colwyn King
Marketing Guyana Joycelyn Dow

4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
The Action Team Leaders will meet to provide direction for initiative implementation.

5. Leadership Team
Private Public Facilitators
Joycelyn Dow Mr. Patrick Walker (CARICOM) Alicia Reid (USAID GTIS)
Bal Persaud Hon. Clement Rohee(MOFTIC) Samuel Brathwaite (IDS)



Making the Five Year Tourism Development Plan Happen
V.^B/^^^^*^^ i^B^^i^


1. Pocus of the Action leam
With assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank, Guyana has prepared a 5 Year Tourism
Development Plan to move the sector forward. The Action Team 'Making the 5 Year Tourism
Development Plan Happen' deliberated, within the constraints of time to identify a few key areas which
are essential to the implementation of the Plan and the development of the sector.

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed
Ms. Cathy Hughes, President of THAG gave a brief
overview of the sector and indicated that as part of
the development the 5 Year Plan there was the
involvement of key stakeholders from the public
and private sector. She identified 5 critical areas
which are key to making the Plan happen, these
being Security and Political Stability; Tourism
Administration; Marketing and Public Relations;
Accessibility; Financing and Investment and a I






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


number of others including Product Development and Infrastructure, Standards and Training.

Minister Clinton Collymore delivered a guest presentation where he alluded to the need to have a clean
environment for the development of tourism. He alluded to the needs for a change in attitudes towards the
environment which will require efforts not only of the City Councils and NDCs but all Guyanese to make
Guyana a tourist attraction.

Minister Nadir pointed out that over the last 5 years there has been an increase in visitor arrivals to
Guyana and alluded to 2005 as the highest number of arrivals. He indicated that the 5 Year Tourism
Development Plan built on the foundations laid by a number of other sector Plans and Strategies and was
widely consulted on. The idea of the Plan was to double the current levels of tourism in 5 years by
identifying concrete actions and costs for implementation.

3. Key Initiatives Identified


Initiative
Tourism Development Accessibility

Marketing and Public Relations
Financing and Investment


Leaders of the Initiative
Learie Barclay
Carla James Chandra

GTA & THAG


4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team
Time constraints did not allow for a discussion on Next Steps.


Guyana's Next Agricultural Frontier: Non-Traditional Agricultural
Products


1. Focus of the Action Team

2. Main Themes and Strategies Addressed

3. Key Initiatives Identified


Initiative Leaders of the Initiative


4. Summary of Next Steps for Action Team


15






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


5. Lessons Learned for Next Year's Summit Feedback

Based on feedback from forms collected at the Summit and from subsequent engagements with the
Summit leadership, Table 1.1 represents a general review of the perspectives and comments on the
Summit. These comments will be used as part of a cycle of continuous learning to improve future
Summits.

Table 1.1:
General Review: Perspectives and Comments on Presidential Summit
held on May 8th 2006

What Worked (what to conserve) I What to Improve


* Presence of investors in various sectors
* Attendance of private sector excellent
* Greater participation than in other meetings
* Commitment to doing things: this was new
* Good attendance by public
* Good attendance by small and medium
farmers from across Guyana
* Commitment by President to support a
training initiative (Call Ctrs/Contract Mfg.)
when he visited the break-out session very
encouraging; builds trust in the partnership
* Some people liked the rapid fire pace of the
Action Team Meetings
* Timing was adequate
* Distilled central issues in Action Team
sessions
* Venue had a great effect not at all the
same as meetings at the Pegasus
* Good to have labour involvement
* "Rapid Fire" methodology was good
* Learned that people could self-organize.
* People can organize: generated feeling that
there is "hope for us" (i.e. Guyana)
* Summits cannot be left to chance (like
1999); the 2006 Summit was well
organized.


* Stick with the time allotted for speeches
and reports
* People not understanding fully what was
expected of them, e.g., to do things, make
commitments maybe better preparation of
participants and facilitators would help
* Some people wanted more time
* Schedule session for a whole day
* Have fewer speeches "considerable fluff'
even with 2 day (concern that if the
Summit were longer, more speeches would
be given, ergo, more fluff)
* Best to plan ahead for follow-up for future
Summits to capture and amplify
momentum
* Get Action Teams going at least several
months prior to the Summit (can get very
positive results like Aquaculture)
* There was a concern that people would
leave after the Opening Plenary. This did
not happen. This suggests that, with the
"cream of the crop" present, it would be
good to expand future Summits to include
2nd level (employees of companies,
ministries, NGO's, funders, etc.). It is
assumed they do much of the work and
would also have good ideas for action
initiatives.






Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development 2006


6. Next Steps

To support follow-up of the Summit Action Teams and initiatives, the Summit Leadership Team was
formed on May 9th. The Summit Leadership Team includes the following members.

Summit Leadership Team
Beni Sankar Tejnarine Geer
Gerry Gouveia Jared Kissoon
Geoff Da Silva Tamara Whelan
Prem Misir Neromini Fagu
Elisabeth Harper Neal Persaud
Dennis Morgan Kamila Singh
Nizam Hassan Edward Humphrey
Dennis Griffith Sean O'Leary
Nick Godfrey Dr. Eric Hansen
Dennis Griffith Myan Baker

The Team agreed that for most initiatives to move forward there is no need to wait for an organization to
take action on initiatives the leaders engaged are sufficiently high level to move forward immediately.
Indeed, many action teams have already made plans to meet regularly to move forward with their
initiatives (e.g Diaspora and Aquaculture Groups). Nevertheless, the Summit Leadership Team agreed to
help coordinate follow-up activities from the Summit and support Action Teams over the next 6 months to
take next steps in strengthening their action initiatives and implementing them. It was agreed on the need
for a scheduled, systematic getting together once a month to support this process to help with
implementation, including:
support those who stepped in to commit to an initiative by creating a "culture of committed
leadership"
maintain momentum
capture and further develop some of the good ideas that enriched every Action Team Meeting at
the Summit
capture and share important ideas developed at the Summit with relevant Ministries, sectors,
organizations, etc. to help create a sense of urgency

The Summit Leadership Team will meet monthly. The first meeting was scheduled for Tuesday May 23rd
9 -11am at the Red House (Cheddhi Jagan Research Center). At this meeting, the Team reviewed this
2006 Presidential Summit Report, plans for the next progress report from Action Teams, discuss priority
action initiatives for each Action Team, and determine how to support all initiative leaders, not just the
priority ones.

As detailed in the NCS, permanent institutional mechanisms will be put in place over the next six months
to support ongoing formulation and implementation of the NCS and provide Secretariat functions for
future Summits via the setting up of the National Competitiveness Council and National Competitiveness
Strategy Unit (NCSU). In the interim, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce's Commerce
Division with support from Golnvest and the PSC have agreed to serve as interim coordinating presence
until permanent mechanisms can move into place.




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