Gov’t/Private sector collaboration enabled positive economic growth – Minister Indar

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, MP, said the collaboration between the private sector and government has played a major role in Guyana attaining one of the highest growth rates in the world.

The Minister was speaking on Tuesday evening at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ (GNBS) National Quality Awards hosted at Rahaman’s Park, Georgetown.

“Private sector is really the engine of growth. It is when private sector does well, that the national numbers that we see in our economic performance show up good. So, it is the private sector and obviously, coupled with the intervention of the state saw the Guyana economy in the first half of the year has grown by 14.5 per cent.”

Minister Indar urged companies to ensure high standards at their respective entities. He said the government remains committed to working with the GNBS to improve standards countrywide.

This, he said is to ensure that GNBS, “works with their strategic partners, local private sector agencies, to build on what we already have as a foundation. So, we can build from that foundation and broaden the level of standard of our country and how we operate. Not just in the township, but also on the outskirts.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, who was performing the duties of Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, noted that quality goods and services are required to satisfy the needs of customers. He said it is time companies improve their services, since customers demand quality goods and services.

“This is preparing you for the bigger opportunities ahead because oil and gas will bring significant opportunities to our country and I often say, the next  nine to 10 years under President Irfaan Ali will be the most exciting period in the history of our country. It will be the period when Guyana will be transformed.”

Minister  Bharrat disclosed that the local content legislation will be presented to the National Assembly soon, noting that it will ensure that Guyanese and businesses benefit from the country’s resources.

“The local content legislation will not be passed in the National Assembly to protect mediocracy by local companies. The local content legislation will not be passed to give you monopoly. We need to compete on the international stage, the regional stage. Our goods and services and prices associated with (them) must be competitive…we must pride ourselves on providing quality goods and services.”

Also making brief remarks were GNBS’ Chairman, Vladim Persaud and Executive Director (ag), Ramrattie Karan.

 First Lady Mrs. Arya Ali, who was also present at the event unveiled GNBS’ ‘Certification Mark.’