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PM: Economic growth must be inclusive

Economic growth must be inclusive and must be felt all across the country, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday in his first Report to the Nation for 2019. 

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TheBahamasInvestor.com
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Economic growth must be inclusive and must be felt all across the country for all Bahamians, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday in his first Report to the Nation for 2019.

The report, the first of three to be delivered by the Prime Minster over the next few weeks, outlined what the government is doing to boost economic growth, help create jobs and provide greater opportunity for all Bahamians.


A dynamic mix of Bahamian and foreign investment projects is part of the government’s strategy to drive growth and expand the economy, he said.

The Bahamas Investment Authority will be restructured to include a promotional arm, which will be used to increase Bahamian and international partnerships and foreign direct investment.

“This promotional arm will be critical for economic expansion and growth,” said Prime Minister Minnis. “It will facilitate investment promotion tours with participation of both private and public stakeholders.”

Since mid-2017, the government has approved an estimated $3.7 billion in foreign investment projects, said the Prime Minister.

He noted that many of the projects, once approved, immediately contract Bahamian firms for legal, accounting, project management, engineering, environmental, architectural, consulting and other professional services.

Another key element in growing the economy is to help Bahamian entrepreneurs and small businesses, said Prime Minister Minnis.

The government has committed to invest $25 million toward small business support over five years.

The recently launched Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) is up and running and so far, approximately 500 Bahamian entrepreneurs have had consultation or participated in seminars through the centre, said the Prime Minister.

For this fiscal year, the government has pledged support in $5.5 million for loans, grants and equity injections into Bahamian small businesses. Together with private sector partners, the total level of support will come to just under $7 million in funding directly to Bahamian entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Of this amount, $450,000 will be spent to provide grants to young underprivileged Bahamians from throughout the country, from poor neighbourhoods and poor families – to support their business aspirations.

Through the SBDC, so far seven companies have been approved for funding to either begin or to expand their businesses for a collective total of $1.5 million, with more credit to be extended.

“Once these small businesses are provided with capital, they can contribute to the fabric of the economy by providing new businesses by Bahamian entrepreneurs and jobs for Bahamians,” said Prime Minister Minnis.

The government has also committed to enhanced training for aspiring entrepreneurs through the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the University of The Bahamas (UB), he said.

“Equipping our students with these types of opportunities will create both jobs and products to help grow the economy. We anticipate expanding this initiative in the upcoming budget,” said Prime Minister Minnis.

To help new business startups, the Ministry of Finance recently announced the roll out of a provisional business license implemented by the Department of Inland Revenue. The provisional license allows individuals wishing to start a new low-risk business to do so in five days or less.

Prime Minister Minnis said he has also pressed his ministers to address the unacceptable amount of time it takes for Bahamians and foreigners alike to open a bank account.

He acknowledged the importance of the Know Your Customer rules, but said it was just as important that Bahamians be able to go to a bank and open an account with little hassle, once they have the proper identification.

“Instead of finding excuses as to why it cannot happen, I want The Central Bank of The Bahamas, the Ministry of Finance, the commercial banks and the private sector to tell me how it will happen,” said Prime Minister Minnis.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is to deliver his first National Report for 2019 tonight at 8pm. The address will be broadcast on local TV networks.

The Bahamas takes centre stage in TUMI's new global campaign starring Lenny & Zoë Kravitz. The campaign and promotional video, directed by Eliot Rausch, is captured in The Bahamas and features Eleuthera, the family island the Kravitz family hails from. Read about the campaign and watch the video 'What the Future Holds' here.

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