Strengthen engineering to grow economy, says Chang

GOVERNMENT IS to focus on strengthening the country’s engineering capacity as part of its growth strategy.

That disclosure was made by minister with responsibility for water, works and housing, Dr Horace Chang, while speaking at the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica Conference, which was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston earlier this month.

“If we are going to build an economy – a strong, sustainable economy – in which Jamaica will no longer be dependent on others doing us favours, by using us when they want to or don’t want to ... we have to build our engineering capacity to ensure we can build industries with quality value-added [offshoots], and, in fact, begin to participate as partners in the international economy,” Chang said.

“So the Government is very keen and will introduce policies to expand our engineering capacity,” he added.

HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION LINKED TO ECONOMY

Chang said the housing and construction sector was inextricably linked to the performance of the economy and noted that the health of the sector was usually an indication of how well the country was doing.

He said the Government would be doing what it can to protect local contractors, and reiterated that preference would be given to local players in the industry.

“We have also ensured that some 20 per cent of procurement will be retained for micro and small enterprise activity,” he said.

“The total government budget is well over a $100 billion; and not all of it is devoted to construction, of course. However, a majority of it goes to construction development.”

Said Chang: “It is important that local contractors and builders be allowed to participate in a fair landscape. Although some may argue that the 15 per cent preference given to local contractors is high, it is important for the Government to protect the local industry.”