Minister Symmonds Highlights Critical Role Of BCSI

The critical role of the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries (BCSI) in driving the island’s economic growth was underscored at the BCSI’s Fourth Council of Leaders Meeting.

Senior Minister Coordinating the Productive Sector and Minister of Energy, Business Development and Commerce, Kerrie Symmonds, in delivering remarks at the meeting, at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, highlighted the need for a stronger services sector.

Mr. Symmonds underlined the importance of market access, competitiveness, and security. He proposed a strategic roadmap to transform the BCSI into an executing agency, which includes the enhancement of digital innovation.

“I believe the BCSI is the best place for us to have a serious registry on services. So that by working through who does what, who sells what service, what capacities these people have, we can have a registry here. And yes, you build in the guardrails, the data protection can be dealt with, [and] you make sure that it is done at international standards, etc.

“But really, where you want to go is to be able to facilitate digital innovation, you want to be able to facilitate software development, you want to be able to facilitate those people who are the digital marketers, and all of the derivatives, artificial intelligence, etc.,” theSenior Minister said.  

The President of the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries, George Thomas, emphasised the importance of standardisation and registration for penetrating foreign markets. 

Mr. Thomas stated: “I’m very much in alignment with the plan for the year. We will be looking at standardisation and registration because you don’t penetrate foreign markets unless you come with your consistency and reproducibility and standardisation, in terms of being assured that there’ll be a certain quality and level of service.” (PR/GIS)