(L-R) Director of Orbit Innovation Project Inc., Byron Gibson; Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland; Director Projects Department CDB, Daniel Best and MSME Development Coordinator, Technical Cooperation Division CDB, Lisa Harding at the launch of the Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurship Programme (CTEP) Stakeholder Summit at the Caribbean Development Bank. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

Government has not only adopted the approach of providing support mechanisms for the entrepreneurial class, but has been transforming itself to move towards eradicating inefficient outdated processes, while breaking down unnecessary bureaucratic layers.

This was emphasized today by Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland, as he addressed the launch of the Caribbean Tech Entrepreneurship Programme (CTEP) Stakeholder Summit at the Caribbean Development Bank, Wildey, St. Michael.

Outlining some of the key initiatives to date that reflect this, Minister Sutherland noted that Government had embarked on a digital transformation agenda for the public service, with the view of converting Barbados to a more digitally developed destination.

Explaining further, he said: “One of the crucial components of this agenda is the development of an e-Service platform.  This platform will house a digital payment solution to facilitate online payments for government services.”

The benefits of the e-Payments solution, he added, would result in lower transaction costs, timely payments, a higher level of revenue collection and greater overall efficiencies.

Another key element, which Minister Sutherland said could be expected, was the operationalizing of Barbados’ Electronic Single Window (eSW). Pointing out that the eSW is an environment that facilitates the electronic submission of standardized international trade and transport related documents to a single point, he added that this e-platform would also allow transacting parties to fulfil their trade and transit related requirement from anywhere in the world.

“Once functional, the eSW will lend to improvements in competitiveness, provide higher levels of efficiency and transparency, allow for greater revenue collection, and enhance the facilitation of trade and trade logistics.  For the private business man, it would allow for faster clearance of goods through the ports of entry and reduce costs, including demurrage charges.  So indeed, Government is also part of the wave of technology and innovation to enhance business competitiveness and trade,” the Small Business Minister said.

joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

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