The activities planned for 2009 under the Competitiveness Programme include continuing the process of telecommunications reform, conducting a feasibility study on expanding shipping capacity,[url=http://www.wholesalenfljerseyssale.us@#$%&/]Wholesale Jerseys[/url], implementing a monitoring and evaluation system for the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS), and continuing the process to modernise the Guyana Deeds Registry.This is according to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce,[url=http://www.nfljerseyscheaponline.us@#$%&/]China Jerseys Online[/url], Manniram Prashad,[url=http://www.wholesalejerseyssale.us@#$%&/]Wholesale China Jerseys[/url], who was at the time addressing the National Assembly during the ongoing budget debate.The Minister said that other activities include establishing a Consumer Protection and Competition Commission secretariat, continuing the institutional strengthening of Go-Invest, setting up Guyana Trade Point, strengthening the capacity of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to provide support to businesses on international standards, upgrading GNBS laboratory equipment, and commencing the Matching Grants Initiative to improve firms exports potential.Minister Prashad stated that in the fiscal year 2008 a total of $203M was allocated for the implementation of the Competitiveness Programme.“I am pleased to inform the House that the objectives for 2008 were achieved within the budgetary allocation.”He noted that the Support for Competitiveness Programme comprises four components coordinated by the Project Execution Unit (PEU). They are: strengthening institutional capacity to formulate and implement the National Competitiveness Strategy; improving the business climate; enhancing investment attraction, export promotion and raising production standards; and supporting private enterprise competitiveness for export development.“For the fiscal year 2009, a total of $501.5M has been allocated for SCP, of which $500 Million is Specific/Foreign and the remaining $1.5 million is allocated from Central Government funds.”The Minister also said that the Support for Competitiveness Programme is a US$27 million programme funded mainly through a loan from the IDB to enhance Guyana?s competitiveness and contribute to the increase in private investments and exports.According to him,[url=http://www.cheapestnfljerseys.us@#$%&/]Cheap Jerseys From China[/url], it forms a part of a wider initiative to implement Guyana?s National Competitiveness Strategy through public-private partnerships. “This has commitment at the highest level through the National Competitive Council which is chaired by President Jagdeo.”Its membership,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysshare.us@#$%&/]Wholesale NFL Jerseys[/url], he added,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysfan.us@#$%&/]Jerseys NFL Wholesale[/url], comprises of four Government Ministers, the CEO for Go-Invest,[url=http://www.wholesalenfljerseyssale.us@#$%&/]Wholesale Jerseys China[/url], Geoffrey Da Silva, and representatives from various private sector bodies, including the Private Sector Commission.The specific objectives of the project are to strengthen the institutions that will be engaged in public-private dialogue, and improve the business environment for private investments and export development.Minister Prashad pointed that some of the major accomplishments of the project in 2008 were funding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) consultations; setting up of the office of the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit and hiring of staff; developing a Communication Strategy for the NCS; commencing the process of telecommunications reform; commencing the process to transform the Deeds Registry to a semi-autonomous body by developing a four-year human resource and financial plan, as well as a transition plan; conducting a client satisfaction survey of Go-Invest clients and commencing institutional strengthening of Go-Invest.