The Economic Growth Strategy and Delivery Plan is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The goal of the Strategy is to foster sustainable growth with benefits for all through sustainable and equitable economic development. The health and nutrition status of the society will be improved through the consumption of fresh local food. Employment opportunities will be raised through vocational trainings with special attention on youth. Business start-up and self-employment programs will be implemented to encourage farmers and smallholders. Women participation in the business sector will be ensured. The participation of all stakeholders will be encouraged in the decision-making processes. In order to enable the tourism sector to contribute to the national economy and sustainable livelihoods for the benefit of all Montserratian residents, sustainable development of the island’s touristic resources will be promoted while protecting and enhancing the island’s natural and man-made environments and heritage. In addition tourism products and services of the highest quality will be delivered for better promotion of Montserrat’s tourism offer. Economic activities will be diversified in the areas such as eco-tourism, marine tourism, health-tourism and sports-tourism. In order to sustain private sector-led growth, the financial services sector will be established, communication technologies will be developed and thereby foreign direct investment will be attracted to the private sector. Legal framework will be updated to facilitate procedural matters in the private sector and thereby to attract international businesses and industry. Infrastructure such as port, local roads and bridges will be developed. Furthermore capacity building will be enhanced to improve business sector. Public-private partnerships will be established to develop growth strategies and to provide technical support. New forms of broadband-dependent businesses will be established by promoting small-scale business investment and additional commercial services. Sustainable and profitable agricultural production will be ensured particularly in the fields of horticulture, livestock breeding and dairy production. Agricultural sector will be developed by introducing the use of modern farming practices, and education and training to attract young people into the sector. Government subsidies will be provided to farmers to increase their yields in order to help meet the domestic demand for food and reduce the reliance on imports. The use of fossil fuels and carbon emissions will be reduced by promoting the use of renewable energy resources. Sustainable locally-sourced energy will be delivered to support the growth of the wider economy. Disaster risk management for agriculture will be strengthened to increase the resilience to volcanic eruption and other natural disasters. Infrastructure will be developed for the long-term resilience to the impacts of the hurricane.
Montserrat (UK) · 2018-02-01