Minister of International Business and Industry, Ronald Toppin, as he delivered his
remarks.
Some of the stakeholders and partners that attended the launch.
CLEAN TECH PUSH
Clean technology is the only way forward for Barbados.
This is the view of Ronald Toppin, Minister of International Business and Industry, as he spoke during the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation’s (BIDC) WeConnect launch that took place on Friday.
The Minister believed that the only way to create clean energy was to marry innovation with renewable energy.
It is against this backdrop that he is especially pleased by the launch of Bloom.
“As renewable energy is so important to us, the promotion of clean tech or clean technology comes to the forefront. The Bloom Clean Tech Cluster is a joint initiative of the BIDC, my ministry – the Ministry of International Business and Industry, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO),” he said.
“This, the final programme being launched here this evening, is intended to establish clean tech clusters and associations here in Barbados. The objective of the cluster and technology incubator is to support new technology and innovation-based enterprises, accelerate their growth and to create green jobs in Barbados.”
He explained that through Bloom, clean tech businesses and start-ups will have access to operating space, high quality business intelligence, coaching, financial support, business development, match-making and business incubation services, which will ensure that their businesses thrive and are able to reach their highest potential with minimal harm to the environment.
The Minister stated that the project will not only support the national objective of making Barbados a green circular economy, but will also support Government’s effort to make the clean tech industry an “important value-creating” pillar of Government’s transformation agenda.
He thanked the BIDC for their efforts in constantly charting the course for the manufacturing sector in Barbados.
He briefly noted that his Government was determined to double their export earnings over the next five years, and as such the roll-out of programmes similar to the ones launched by the BIDC were welcomed wholeheartedly.