Paulwell:
Manufacturing major pillar of Jamaica's economy
Petroleumworld
Trinidad & Caribbean
KINGSTON
Petroleumworldtt.com
06 25 06
Minister
of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip
Paulwell has emphasised that despite the challenges,
the country's manufacturing sector remained a major
pillar of the economy.
"The
outlook for the manufacturing sector for the current
year is positive and this is predicated on increased
investment in plant and capacity upgrading and growth
of the food, beverages and tobacco sub categories,"
Mr. Paulwell said, as he made his contribution to
the 2006/07 Sectoral Debate in the House, yesterday
(June 20).
"Many
of us are of the view that the manufacturing sector
must be among the most resilient in the world. It
is against this background that I wholeheartedly
commend the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association and
the Jamaica Exporters' Association for staging what
must certainly be the most successful trade show
and exposition to date," the Minister said,
noting that the recent exposition had attracted
some 144 companies, which exhibited quality Jamaican
products, as well as more than 220 local and international
buyers.
Indeed,
he said, the successful staging of this exposition,
"eclipsed the claim that manufacturing is not
a viable option for economic development in this
country. With a comprehensive range of exhibits,
we were exposed to goods and services that projected
the strength of Brand Jamaica and met the exacting
standards of the global market".
Mr.
Paulwell used the opportunity to commend the Associations
for the pro-active approach that they had taken
in sensitising and encouraging their members in
regard to the importance of capacity-building and
of being responsive to consumer demand and preferences.
"Even
as we accept the reality that manufacturing is giving
way to the services sector internationally, Jamaica
has a number of opportunities that are ripe for
investment. Many manufacturing enterprises in Jamaica
are doing well. However, to maintain competitiveness,
I would like to challenge them to benchmark against
industry leaders," he said.
The
Minister noted that many of the problems facing
manufacturers were structural, while others, such
as the challenges posed by globalization, were unavoidable.
"However we must focus on those challenges
that need fixing and fix them, identify the bottlenecks
that exist and remove them, and ensure that state
agencies treat businesses as clients not as nuisances,"
he said.
Mr.
Paulwell pointed out that in 2005 the sector contributed
13.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), surpassing
the combined contribution of other goods producing
sectors, such as agriculture (5.2 per cent) and
mining (5.8 per cent). In addition, the sector employed
some 72,000 persons or 6.8 per cent of the total
employed labour force.
He
noted that real GDP for the sector reflected a 3
per cent growth for 2004, adding that the 1 per
cent decline in 2005, which he said was influenced
to a large extent by the 3.4 per cent reduction
in the food, beverage and tobacco category, resulted
from the effects of Hurricanes Dennis and Emily
and the temporary closure of the Petrojam refinery.
Total
exports for calendar year 2005 grew by 9 per cent
compared to 2004, driven by growth in exports of
the non-traditional category, such as beverages
and tobacco, mineral fuels and animal and vegetable
oil, the Minister said.
Petroleumworld Trinidad & Caribbean
25nd June 2006
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