Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, has underscored the importance of collaboration and building international relationships, saying they are key in moving forward.
Senator Cummins expressed this view recently as she participated in a panel discussion at the four-day Global Supply Chain Forum, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
During her presentation, the Minister focused on the roles that must be played by government agencies, governments in partnership with international partners, and in collaboration with the private sector.
“Governments do not trade, governments do not do business, but governments are enablers and facilitators…. And if government regulations and government bureaucracy stand in the way of the ease of doing business and the facilitation of trade, then we’re not doing our jobs and we’re not doing it well,” she proffered.
Minister Cummins highlighted ASYCUDA World; the Port Community System which is under development; the Bridgetown Port’s Maritime Single Window which is in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization; and the Barbados Electronic Single Window for Trade, which is currently being tested, as being very important.
“And so, we have all four portals currently functioning in Barbados, and we are going to be moving to make sure that they are integrated. But then what comes next?
“What comes next from our perspective is the collaboration with international agencies, and I want to take the opportunity to make a call…for us to work far more closely with WTO, UNCTAD and the World Customs Organization, to ensure that we are able to meet the regulatory requirements of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, …live up to the requirements of government, and go beyond,” the Senator affirmed.