 |
|
St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas (right) inspects the work of an employee of Kajola-Kristada during a visit to plant at the C. A. Paul Southwell Industrial Park. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 30TH 2006 - Significant production by local firms involved in the manufacture of electrical and electronic components for the export market resulted in growth in the manufacturing sector in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank in its annual economic report on its borrowing member countries said value-added in the manufacturing sector in St. Kitts and Nevis grew by an estimated 7.8 percent in 2005 compared with 7.6 percent in 2004.
Preliminary production data for 2005 indicates that lower production of sugar was offset by higher output of electrical and electronic components as well as masonry and brewery products.
CDB said that local firms involved in the manufacture of electrical and electronic components for the export market registered strong growth, reversing a decline in the previous year.
The bank credited the increase in manufacturing to the expansion in production by some companies like Kajola-Kristada, makers of traps, connectors, filters and surface mounts, Jaro Electronics, makers of PC Boards, Plastic mouldings and Lutron Liamuiga, which makes lighting and fan speed controls and the introduction of new products by a number of companies including Sun Island Clothes, makers of uniforms, pillows and embroidery, Victory Packaging Company, which makes plastic bottles and Kajola-Kristada in response to increased demand from the United States.
 |
|
St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and officials of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce during a visit to Kajola-Kristada at the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Site . |
On the domestic front, the production of manufactures, including masonry and brewed products, was higher to satisfy increased domestic demand. In contrast, the output of food continued to decline in 2005 due to strong competition from imports.
It said that sugar output declined by 24.2 percent (3,482.8 tonnes) to 10,900.1 tonnes in 2005 compared with a 12.9 percent (2,131.6 tonnes) decline in 2004. Lower sugar production was attributed to numerous factors, including a significantly lower acreage reaped; adverse weather conditions; the late application of fertilizers due to financing difficulties; cane fires and damage to cane fields by animals (cattle and small ruminants) and the late harvesting of the sugar cane crop.
The conversion ratio of sugar cane to sugar declined in 2005. An average of 13.3 tonnes of sugar cane was required to produce one tonne of sugar in 2005 compared with 11.95 tonnes in 2004.
