Anthony Hylton in the House of Representatives on Tuesday
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Opposition Spokesman on Industry Anthony Hylton
The opposition People's National Party has put forward a four-pronged strategy to position the country for greater economic growth.
Opposition Spokesman on Industry Anthony Hylton, making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, given the current global uncertainties the country must position itself to take advantage of emerging opportunities as a buffer against shocks to the the system of international trade.
Against that background, he said a new government under the PNP would pursue a different approach, starting with "a comprehensive modern trade policy; one that reflects Jamaica's potential and secures our place in the global economy."
It would also include deepening of Jamaica's relationship with CARICOM, "rekindle South-South cooperation and forge new partnershps in Africa, Mexico, Asia and Latin America, even while seeking to improve our trade agreements with the EU, Canada and the US."
He claimed the current government has engaged in political theatrics while ignoring the looming threat of an economic crisis and has overseen an under performing economy.
In contrast, he promised a PNP approach that would seek to drive investment, under a vision to "transform Jamaica into the region's global supply and value-chain powerhouse."
Arguing that "no nation has achieved prosperity without a thriving industrial base," he promised to "revitalise legacy industries and foster new sectors: digital services, creative industries, clean manufacturing and renewable energy."
He also promised that the Global Logistic Hub Initiative will be fully realised through the modernising of the ports and the setting up of special economic zones.
The plan for a future administration is to drive investment, he said, while ciriticising the efforts of current Investment Minister Aubyn Hill, in that regard, claiming that no meaningful return has been evident from the trade missions the minister has led.
According to him, no groundwork was done to realise the desired investments, thereby dooming the trips to failure.
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