Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning!
On behalf of the Premier of these Virgin Islands Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE who is currently on official travel attending the Caribbean Tourism Conference in New York, I welcome you to this side of paradise.
I trust that while you are here, you will take some time to enjoy the tourism offerings that make us unique as a Territory, like our food, our national parks, and our music. So, enjoy it while you are here, take it all in and come back and see us again, of course in a more relaxed capacity.
Now to the reason we are here. Today is indeed a momentous day for all of us!
We are about to welcome the official start of the European Union funded Regional Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) project.
For those of you who know the full history of this project, you will understand and appreciate the long road we have had to travel to get to this point.
It certainly has been an extremely steep learning curve for all of us. We negotiated. We made tough decisions. We maneuvered through the challenges. We kept focused. We remain optimistic. And here we are today, moving forward all for the sole purpose of building a SMEs in our respective jurisdiction.
If I use these Virgin Islands as example:
We believe in small and Medium-sized business development.
1. Such businesses are the central drivers for circulating wealth throughout our economy;
2. Such businesses contribute to the economy in a direct way in the provision of jobs; and more importantly,
3. As a Government we recognise that there are many of our people who have a keen interest in starting their own business, and so the appropriate avenue must be provided for them to achieve their desires.
I used this example because I am sure that this is also true for your jurisdictions: we understand that value, the importance and the presence of SMEs and so with optimism, we welcome this project.
The overall objective of this initiative is to strengthen the development of SMEs in the British and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and to reduce social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities through enhanced cooperation and competitiveness within the region.
The purpose of strengthening the capacity of SME Intermediaries in the British and Dutch OCTs is important if we are to manage and effectively implement strategies.
Additionally, if we are to implement mechanisms to develop linkages within the OCT sub-region and increase participation and integration in the wider Caribbean, we must put effective strategies in place.
It is our vision that through this programme, all Caribbean OCTs will become more competitive, not only on a regional level, but globally. This of course is possible through integration of the OCTs with the rest of the Caribbean.
It is believed that the path to greater prosperity for the Caribbean lies in greater integration, within the region and with the rest of the world.
However, all experiences bring both opportunities and challenges and that is no less true of integration. In this regard, as the Caribbean region pursues greater integration in the context of a very dynamic world economy, it is essential that it improves its competitiveness and continues to ensure financial stability.
Today as you meet to discuss programmes and projects for implementation through this EU funded project for your individual Territories, I invite you to be open and frank with the Gopa team of consultants and by extension the Deputy Regional Authorising Officer team regarding the proposed implementation track.
I like to encourage debate. It is healthy and it is the only way you will get to the core of your objectives.
In closing, on behalf of our Premier, I thank all the territories represented here today for the work and dedication you have put into the project thus far from the feasibility study, the workshop held, the tendering of the long term consultants and now to this our first of many steering committee meetings.
I also thank the EU for the funding provided for the project and for entrusting the responsibility to us as OCTs to manage the project, thereby building capacity within the region.
I thank Gopa for the invaluable assistance that they have rendered thus far to help us to achieve the objective of the project.
I also thank the BVI team for the hard work they have put into getting the project up and running on behalf of all the OCTs.
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