President of the Dominica Manufacturers Association (DMA), Severin McKenzie has revealed that the association in collaboration with other manufacturers have presented a proposal to the government of Dominica seeking assistance to improve and expand the manufacturing facilities on island, in order to create jobs.
He made that statement while addressing the DMA 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in the Conference Room of the Garraway Hotel under the theme: “Making Dominican Products Export Ready”.
According to McKenzie the association is negotiating with another manufacturing association located in one of the neighbouring islands for the establishment of a Buy Dominica Shop where there is a concentration of Dominica nationals.
“I am pleased to announce that the DMA in collaboration with other manufacturers presented a proposal to government for assistance through the manufacturing sector which will assist in training, improving standards, getting our products ready for the export market,” he revealed. “If the assistance we are looking for is made available for the manufacturing sector, we will create within the next 12 months about 340 new jobs within the manufacturing sector because the proposal we have actually presented to government is one where we are seeking assistance to improve and expand the manufacturing facilities on island.”
McKenzie stated that a number of manufacturers are still skeptical and still ask the question, “What is in it for me?”
“Why should I be a part of DMA and what benefits are there?” he added. “And I would say that there are quite a number of benefits that persons who are involved in the manufacturing sector can get from being part of the DMA and the linkages that we are creating across the sectors.”
He went on to say that the manufacturing sector in Dominica can be a reliable source for growth in the Dominican economy.
The year 2016 saw mixed results in the manufacturing industry with the sector continuing to be confronted with major challenges, however, DMA had some achievements, such as the Buy Dominica Month in September and an awards ceremony in collaboration with the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI) where focus was placed on Dominican products and services and the recognition of manufacturers.
He said the DMA successfully hosted students from the University of Dayton Ohio, for a third consecutive year; the Buy Dominica SuperCentre: The Home of Locally Manufactured Products, was relocated to the Roseau Market and DMA lead the initiative to prepare the enhancement of the manufacturing proposal to government.
Plans are on the way for the hosting of a National Expo in November, 2017, to celebrate Dominica’s 40th Anniversary of Independence.
The DMA is a non-profit, non-government organization, whose objective is to represent the interest of Dominica’s manufacturers by creating opportunities for the sales and marketing of local products and at the same time encouraging high quality, cost effective and consistent supplies of these products.
The DMA recognizes the important role of the manufacturing sector in economic development and is committed to creating the conditions to improve the profitability of its members who have invested in such an important sector.
I say we scrap all those plans and export fish instead. We exported 1 million pounds last year. If we could increase fish exports, I think every man jack on the island could be self-sustainable.
The people who asking what the DMA membership can do remind me of the civil servants who refuse to stand with the union but are waiting for the salary increase.There is strength in collaboration. instead of seeing each other as competitor we nedd to broaden our thoughts and look at bjgger opportunities and in order to do so we need to build capacity thru collaboration .
We need to rid ourselves of this tribalistic tendencies
But as aoon as the money sharing is then they want to come and see what they can get. I agree with you Lang
No problem with the gov’t helping that sector but the $$ should be disbursed in phases. The gov’t must ensure that it is used for the intended purpose.
Hopeful that this comes to fruition, I’d like to see more young people get involved in agro-processing.
Agro processing will save the country. In other countries especially in central and south america they have gotten serious about and as i see, many of their products are now sold here. why? because they meet an international standard. Here we dont even have the capacity to test. so yes the sector needs help, in order to improve employment, transfer of skills (food and nutrition, engineers for machinery, lab technicians etc) productivity and exports. In turn, this affects other industries like AGRICULTURE! – a sure market locally for produce; Tourism – products (soaps, oils, cocoa, coffee, toilet paper, snacks, beverages………..list goes on). At one point Dominica was the #1 lime oil processing country in the WORLD. we have fallen where real production is concerned.
I’m sure the government will assist!
“….DMA had some achievements, such as the Buy Dominica Month in September and an awards ceremony in collaboration with the Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI) where focus was placed on Dominican products and services and the recognition of manufacturers.”
Severin, is that your idea of an achievement? This is a bit of a stretch.
Here are some of my ideas of an achievement:
– Increased profitability for the sector
– Increased production
– Increased productivity
– Increase in sales/exports
– better quality
– better on-time delivery
These are some of the metrics by which you measure success. No wonder some manufacturers are questioning the benefit of joining the DMA.
Increased Production and productivity are basically the same. your point although valid where success is determined, isnt where the Association is concerned. the Association isnt supposed to make your business successful for you. Your businesses’ cooperation and involvement in the association will improve the sector, and in turn your business will benefit and become successful. For example in the event that there Association is granted funding like through the BAM program or Caribbean Export or JEF program any other funding agency who looks more favorably on NGO’s like the DMA, most likely, their members will be the first to able to benefit from that. If equipment is procured or training is available or trade show opportunity in another country most likely their members will be chosen FIRST. If shipping and transportation opportunities are developed same thing. It is not about what the manufacturers association can do for you, but what manufacturers can do for themselves.
If you think Productivity and Production are one and the same, you should not be commenting on my post, because you have no idea about what you are talking about.
I was going to tell you the difference between two, but a quick Google search will educate you. Look it up.
The results are the same. More output. No use arguing over trivialities like little girls.
When you show your success on what you have mentioned and you reveal your identity away from that of a Liazard, then you will be taken seriously. The article clearly states more than your selective mentality and thus your inability to read and understand basic English.
Douglas don’t worry about me. I make more money in one day than some of these companies make in a month.
Savarin, this is the second time you are on DNO singing the same song!
Why should the Skerrit government or any other Government give you or any other entity money to create work space for free! If you are a business person, it is your responsibility to create your work space, and develop your facilities.
You people are giving Skerrit and the rest of the puppets in his circus too much power over you; everything that is free is not good: Fools gold looks she same as pure gold, the prospector has to be able to recognized the real goal from the fools gold!
Skerrit like to give, but you should not be so quick to get; because if the gift is not from an honest source, you might find it cause you more harm than good. I know he gave millions to his friends to build hotels, eventually if you remain alive long enough you see the result of that! Stop, crying, singing, and begging. Be a man and face the bank, if your business if profitable you should be able to get a loan!
Why don’t you get your tail out of your comfort zone, where ever you are located, and come help develop Dominica? You criticize everything. What is wrong with accepting assistance from government to develop a sector? You need prayers Telemacque, from what I get you are supposed to be a senior citizen, but sadly, a very disgusting one.
In the first place though I am a senior citizen I know how to spell, my name you are a dunce learn to spell my name before you try to address me And what is wrong with being a senior citizen?
If you were not an idiot you would realize as long as one is alive breathing God’s oxygen they will become a senior citizen, so maybe I have lived a full, and comfortable life, that is why I’ve lived long enough to be a senior citizen!
Are you jealous of my comfort zone? Eat you heart out while you suffer in poverty perpetrated on you by Skerrit, while he lives in luxury a multimillionaire; probably a billionaire, while you kiss his butt for a handout to survive. What is you profession, what work do you do Dominica! If I remained in Dominica I might end up a scum bag like you, hence I prefer to be a senior citizen in America, than to be a youth in Dominica!