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Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 10, 2016 (SKNIS):  The Honourable Lindsay Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce, and a team from the Ministry of Trade (Mr. Phillip Browne, Director of Industry and Commerce and Danielle Kelly), continued their visits to several manufacturing plants, including the St. Kitts and Nevis Bottling Company Ltd and DOMUS Windows and Doors, on August 4.  Minister Grant said that these annual visits are a platform for the management and workers of these manufacturing companies to voice their concerns and challenges so that they can be addressed.

“In the economic landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis, manufacturing is a significant part of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and that is why we have taken a concerted effort to ensure that every single year we visit all the manufacturing plants in St. Kitts and Nevis… to find out what challenges they may have, to see if the government can meet any of those challenges that they face,” said Minister Grant.

Minister Grant also outlined the government’s role to ensure that manufacturing companies continue to exist and maximize their productivity.

“The government obviously is to ensure that the plants are kept opened, the number of people is kept employed and the number of people continues to grow in employment, which is good for the country,” he said.

Although the Federation’s main industry is tourism, Minister Grant said that the manufacturing industry is just as important as in any other country in the world.

“Manufacturing you know is very important in any country, and St. Kitts and Nevis is no exception,” he said.

Minister Grant also expressed his gratitude for the work that all manufacturing companies in the Federation are doing, stating that he was delighted to have been given the opportunity to visit the various plants this year.  He also mentioned that he hopes that persons in the community can see all of the hard work and dedication that are being put into these companies, which will in return attract more business investment.

At the end of his visits, Minister Grant said that he looks forward to continued cooperation between the Ministry of Trade and the manufacturing plants, while pledging that his ministry will try its upmost best to resolve any challenges and concerns raised by the manufacturing companies.