Page 22 - GMSA 2017 AR Print for flip1

GOVERNANCE & ADVOCACY

GMSA insists Budget 2017 must be

“pro-business and pro-private sector”

…meets Finance Ministers, outlines vision and possible

measures to be included

President of GMSA along with members of the Executive met with
Minister of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan M.P

s part of its mandate, the Guyana Manufacturing and that Guyana’s economy grew by 2.2 percent during the first
Services Association (GMSA) engaged the Government of half of 2016, compared to 2 percent for the corresponding
AGuyana through its Ministry of Finance on the measures period in 2015 but overall projected growth for the year has
contained in Budget 2017 as it pushed its agenda to have a more declined from 3.8 percent to 3.1 percent.
uniquely crafted budget that is “pro-business and pro-private
sector”. Also, the GMSA related that the manufacturing sector over
the past several years has been contributing 6-8 percent of
The 2017 Budget, which was presented under the theme GDP, explaining that that year, the sector was expected to
“Building a Diversified, Green Economy: Delivering the grow marginally, by 1.9 percent.
Good Life to All Guyanese” by Finance Minister Winston
Jordan, included a number of measures that were aimed In its presentation, the GMSA also noted that in the first half
at boosting the country’s overall growth and development. of 2016, the sector grew by 9.9 percent compared to the 14.1
percent negative growth in the same period of the previous
As a result, the GMSA, led by its President, Shyam Nokta, year, accounting for 7 percent of GDP at mid-year. This is as
made a presentation to the Finance Minister and his team a result of three performers – rice milling, value adding in
on September 21, 2016 to share its views and proposals as sugar and light manufacturing, with the latter growing by
well as economic vision for the manufacturing and services 1.3 percent at mid-year and the biggest contribution to GDP
sector. thus far (3.9 percent). A key sub-sector, forestry declined
by 18.2 percent at mid-year with only sawn wood showing
In its presentation to the Government, the GMSA noted positive growth.

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