Brief Remarks

Denise Antonio, Resident Representative,

ACP-EU Development Minerals Progra mme Handover of a Business Training Resource Publication Virtual Event by Zoom, Kingston

5October 2020, 11:00 a.m.

• Dr. Oral Rainford, Principal Director, Mining and Minerals Policy
• Mr. Roy Nicholson, Commissioner of Mines, Mines and Geology Division (MGD)
• Ms. Valerie Veira, CEO, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC)
• Mr. Laurence Neufville, Assistant Professor, Head of School of Building and Land Management, Faculty of the Built Environment, UTECH
• Mr. Anthony Morgan, President, Mining and Quarrying Association(M&QA)
• Mrs. Jackie Millington, Director, Lydford Mining Company Ltd.
• Mr. Noel McKenzie, Mining Consultant
• Other colleagues from UNDP and other representatives of the national and international development community
• Other attendees on social media

A warm welcome to all.

I am happy to participate in this Virtual Handover of a Training Reference Resource Publication designed to build entrepreneurial skills of participants in the development minerals sector. The publication is the first knowledge product produced under Phase II of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, financed by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the UNDP Multi Country Office (MCO) in Jamaica in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Mining’s Mines and Geology Division, for another three (3) years,  

The publication marks the continuation of our mission to boost the business skills of the sector starting in 2018 when UNDP and the Jamaica Business Development Centre signed a partnership agreement resulting in island-wide Business Enterprise Skills training. Production of the resource reference is another important step in this journey, and I am satisfied that the partnership is building the capacity’s sector to contribute even more to economic growth and job creation.

Let’s face it; many participants in the sector are micro businesses with comparatively small operations requiring tailored resources on how to build and grow their business as well as to survive crisis. The cultivation of these valuable skills among miners, artisans and other representatives of the development minerals sector through a handy learn-at-your-own-pace guide is therefore a welcome development that I laud and heartily encourage. MSMEs can now learn how to build and grow profitable, sustainable and resilient operations free of charge. I urge miners, artisans and other members of the sector to take the time to learn as much as they can from this free resource which is provided digitally and in hard copy.

Users will be able to hone their skills in business planning, finance and banking, managing business risk and developing the entrepreneurial mindset. Content also provides sufficient guidance on how the private mining sector can seek lines of credit and other resources from Approved Financial Institutions (AFI’s) in the local market to grow their enterprises.

.. The decision to include chapters on crisis management and COVID is relevant and indeed urgent for these challenging times. COVID response and recovery continues to be a priority across UNDP projects and to this end the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, Phase II has already facilitated COVID-19 related cash grant disbursements, at a value of approximately US$60,000 to 12 beneficiaries.

I again extend appreciation to the European Union, the financier of this Development Minerals Programme, our main partners, Mines and Geology Division and the Ministry of Transport and Mining, as well as the JBDC and all other partners.

I   anticipate that there will be several opportunities like this to enhance entrepreneurial training and the roll out of associated knowledge products, which will enhance the survival of businesses at all levels in the  Development Minerals sector, for continued collaboration, in order to achieve Jamaica's Vision 2030's objectives.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you.