Minister of International Business and Industry, Ronald Toppin, presenting Business Development Officer, Coral Taylor, with a token of appreciation for her 30 years of service to the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation. (J.Weekes/BGIS)
The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) must serve as a role model for public sector agencies.
This sentiment was expressed by Minister of International Business and Industry, Ronald Toppin, while addressing the organisation’s recent Christmas luncheon.
“The BIDC, by the nature of its mandate, must serve as a role model for public sector agencies – leading in the forefront of economic diversification through new investment, innovation, increased exports and employment creation, finding and applying solutions that will drive the development of production and service companies, all while igniting new engines of economic growth.
“It is therefore incumbent on you to ensure that the corporation continues to be very highly regarded as a public entity,” he said.
To accomplish this, Minister Toppin believes that renewed operations and management approaches will be required along with change agents and creative thinkers to achieve a highly motivated workforce.
He added that there was also the need for imagination and continuous innovation, something he claimed traditional organisations are not always good at.
“You cannot rely only on traditional management styles and rote task execution, as this will not be enough to get the job done. In addition, to maintain your place as a highly regarded public entity, you may require appropriate skills, the application of appropriate financing and technology, and a high level of competence, company sophistication and business performance.
“Based on your efforts and accomplishments thus far, these are within your reach and you are positioned to be a model corporation of the future,” the Industry Minister said.