Caribbean Export OUTLOOK 2014

Red Tape

Red

Carpet

There’s a fresh wind blowing through the

Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and

Communications.

New Government agencies have been formed

to lead initiatives that will attract foreign direct

investment. All are revitalizing the approach

to business and seeking partnerships between

private and public sector; between global and

local producers.

Initiatives like this publication, the re-focusing

of the primary investment promotion agency

– invest TT Ltd - and the aggressive outreach of

new companies like the International Financial

Centre and CreativeTT are aimed at evoking

positiveresponsesfromTrinidadandTobago,and

fromtheworld.Theysay,wearestreamliningour

approaches, we are eager to do business.

We are, youmight say, on red alert. Red, now, is

the colour of vibrancy, movement.

Across many Government

ministries, the move is on. It was

recently given an identity by the

Minister himself. Senator theHon.

Vasant Bharath holds portfolios of

Trade, Industry and Investment. He believes

that to effect change, one must at times be

prepared to move in leaps and bounds. To

assure customers, local and international, that

the country is open for business, indeed serious

about efficiency and good governance even as

it sweeps away unnecessary bureaucracy, he

declared themove “fromred tape to red carpet.”

The “red tape to red carpet” campaign is based

on the trend towards enhanced collaboration

amongGovernmentministries and agencies. It

reflects the efforts to do better faster even as it

drivesimprovementsinservicedeliveryacrossall

interactions inTrinidad andTobago. Hopefully,

a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement is

being created. It is newbranding that indicates

energy, urgency and efficiency in the country’s

business interactions.

Industry, Investment and Communications

in a forum that is aimed at confirming and

supportingtheteamapproachtoactionplanning,

expediting and facilitating collaboration.

“Red tape to red carpet” has evolved into a

comprehensive multi-media programme

aimed at communicating the changes taking

place across Government agencies in support

of a business-like attitude. It includes the use

of traditional media (press, radio, television,

billboards); and explores new social media such

as Facebook and youTube. The corporate press

advertisement has been placed in key local and

regional business magazines. InvesTT Limited’s

One StopShopandFacilitationDepartment are

the key deliverable for the promotion of the red

carpet treatment to the investor.

Somesignificantspecificoutcomesareefficiencies

and reduction in the time elapsed between

application and registration or

certification results. For example,

time taken for procurement of

a construction permit should

be reduced. Some processes

which should be achieved in

shorter time frames include:

the goods declaration service (via Customs and

Excise); registering a property; and enforcement

of contracts, or dealing with bankruptcy and

insolvency.

Acouple counties inCalifornia—SiliconValley

and Orange County –have “red tape to red

carpet’’ initiatives. These have evolved over time

to includemeasurable objectives, incentives and

annual awards which celebrate the efforts of

Government and other agencies in continuous

improvement, to do better faster. In time, “red

tape to red carpet” will be a significant element

of the Trinidad and Tobago brand.

(Information provided by Yolande Agard-

Simmons - Manager, Communications

and Events, Ministry of Trade, Industry,

Investment and Communications)

To date, the agencies that have initiated activity

in support of this move include:

•

Trade Licence Unit;

•

Animal Production andHealthDivision;

•

Plant Quarantine Services;

•

Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division;

•

exporTT Ltd—the export company of

Trinidad and Tobago;

•

Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of

Industry and Commerce;

•

Ministry of Legal Affairs;

•

Work Permit Secretariat at the Ministry

of National Security.

The vision is to create an expectation of

premium service on the part of the citizens

of Trinidad and Tobago; and exceed the real

expectations of the businessman or investor,

local or international.

Within the Government agencies, employees

are motivated to provide service to the private

sector, in the spirit of collaboration. Leading

the reform process is Randall Karim - Director,

Policy and Strategy of the Ministry of Trade,

Industry,InvestmentandCommunications.Heis

responsibleformultiplestakeholderengagements

all aimedat brainstorming solutions for reducing

bureaucracy and other issues. Once solutions are

presented, the process drives early adoption of

plansandprogrammeswhichmayincludebetter

communications,computerizationandefficiency

targets among others.

Karimleadsanaction-orientedgroupcomprising

representatives of all the active subscriber

agencies(listedabove)withclearlydefinedtargets

and delivery dates. He reports regularly to the

executivemanagement of theMinistryofTrade,

The vision is to create an expectation of premium

service on the part of the citizens of Trinidad and

Tobago; and exceed the real expectations of the

businessman or investor, local or international.

COMMUNICATING THE PROCESS OF CHANGE TO ATTRACT GLOBAL BUSINESS