The updated version of the strategic plan for the Food and Beverage industry (F&B) is well on its way to being completed. This comes after a consultation held on Monday 8th March 2010 with industry stakeholders to align their objectives with those in the revised draft plan, with the ultimate goal of producing a final version that will drive the growth of the sector. Once completed, the revised plan is supposed to better guide the Food and Beverage Industry Development Committee (FBIDC) in its quest to further develop and expand this valuable industry, one of the key players in the Non-Energy Manufacturing sector in Trinidad and Tobago.
Held at the NAMDEVCO Packinghouse in Piarco, the event was chaired by our very own Nyron Mohammed, who functions as the interim Industry Specialist for the industry. PS Carl Francis delivered the opening remarks and highlighted the importance of the revised Strategic Plan stating that “it will redefine the role and function of the FBIDC in its mandate to expand the Industry, enhance its competitiveness and ultimately increase its contribution to Non-Energy Manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
Consultant Kyle Jackman and his team from Integrated Management Services Limited were commissioned by the FBIDC to prepare the revised and updated plan which was presented at the consultation. F&B Industry stakeholders - which included members of the TTMA, TTCIC and BDC – divided into working groups to discuss the proposed strategic objectives and to prioritize them depending on their line of business. They then presented their findings, along with relevant issues and recommendations.
The local F&B Industry is a stalwart of the non-energy manufacturing sector, contributing approximately TT $4.1 billion to GDP in 2009, amounting to 52 percent of overall Manufacturing GDP. There are on record 430 firms, employing some 11, 000 people. Furthermore, this industry is one of three industries in the Non-Energy Manufacturing sector that did not experience a negative growth rate during the period January-December 2009. The updated F&B Industry Strategic Plan is expected to be completed within the coming months.
From left: Nyron Mohammed, MTI, PS Carl Francis, Richard Joseph, Acting Chairman, FBIDC and Kyle Jackman, Consultant, Integrated Management Services Limited
MTI's Nyron Mohammed at the podium
From left: Nyron Mohammed, MTI, PS Carl Francis, Richard Joseph, Acting Chairman, FBIDC and Kyle Jackman, Consultant, Integrated Management Services Limited
MTI staff Cyntra Raghubar and Justin Pantin with a participant
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