Collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential for growth, and necessary in driving sustainable economic progress and development within the Caribbean region.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), this was emphasised by Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, as he delivered remarks at the first Pure Grenada Expo spearheaded by the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) in partnership with Guyana’s Private Sector Commission (PSC).
The event was held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown on Thursday.
A 25-member trade delegation from Grenada is currently here, exploring avenues to capitalise on opportunities in agriculture, tourism and trade among other lucrative industries.
At the opening ceremony, the Grenadian prime minister emphasised the need to invest in education, which he believes fosters a deep understanding of shared assets and resources within the Caribbean.
“Education doesn’t mean formal schooling; education means learning about who we are as a people. Understanding the assets and resources that we have been blessed with, investing in research, development, and technology, and communicating with each other and sharing…As a region, if we are going to grow both individually and collectively, it is vital that we get to know, understand, and learn about each other,” PM Mitchell said.
Also the Chairman of Caricom, Mitchell also discussed the importance of addressing logistical challenges and trade patterns to ensure food security and economic sustainability, particularly in global events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prime minister acknowledged the significance of small and medium-sized enterprises and encouraged a shift towards recognising their value and potential for success.
He called for continued support for agriculture and a focus on resilience, innovation, and strong values for economic growth and development in the Caribbean region, DPI said.
Grenada’s Minister of Economic Development, Planning, Tourism, ICT, Creative Economy, Agriculture and Lands, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Lennox Andrews underlined the importance of the trade mission, particularly in the agriculture sector.
“We aim to establish mutually beneficial agreements that will contribute to the growth and diversification of our agricultural sectors and that can bring benefits to the man on the street… Grenada is well known for its spices. We have the best cocoa in the world. We have our nutmeg and mace. And all of these are available for export here to Guyana,” he stated.
The trade mission will remain in Guyana until tomorrow.
