Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 19, 2019 (SKNIS): There are untapped opportunities within the green technology area and sector in St. Kitts and Nevis, says Minister of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Lindsay Grant, noting that immediate action is necessary not only to address the growing demand for green technology, but also to address the increasing risks to the environment.
“The growth for green technology is boundless with prospects and expectations to contribute significantly to our country’s transformation into a high value added economy,” said Minister Grant during the opening ceremony for the Caribbean Green Tech Start-up Bootcamp where entrepreneurs are being empowered with the skills and tools relevant to start up a sustainable green business from March 19 to 21 at the Customs and Excise Department.
“Today’s workshop therefore offers an important platform to encourage new paradigms and to develop concrete and transformative solutions moving forward,” he said.
The minister stated that the workshop was timely as it provides all participants a valuable opportunity to stay abreast with key developments in green technology, “to building a pipeline of innovative and sustainable clean tech start-ups and equally important to build or improve the existing ecosystems supporting clean technology for our entrepreneurs.”
Minister Grant stated that the government appreciates the hard work of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre CCIC in executing the Bootcamp.
The Mission of the CCIC is to inspire entrepreneurs across the region to provide innovative and sustainable business solutions that will lead to the mitigation or adaptation to climate change.
“Your efforts in ensuring that the people of the Federation are ready for the challenge predicated for our islands and predicted climate change will not go unnoticed,” said the minister.
Minister Grant noted that he was elated to see the participants in their numbers.
“Your presence here signals your interests and that for me is a positive sign of the great things that are to come,” he said. “I sincerely wish that this symposium will be a great success not only as a chance to share knowledge and experience in sustainable development, but also as the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship and of co-operation and friendship among all the presenters devoted to the most meaningful and worthwhile tasks of protecting our environment and natural resources by teaching and training our younger generation who would shape, of course, our future.”
The minister encouraged all the participants to use the knowledge that they will receive throughout the sessions to make their dreams a reality.
