-• sas® ■- : - 
: 
Focus 
on 
Panoramic Roseau 
In the past, agriculture has been the main¬ 
stay of the economy of Dominica; but 
traditional crops and traditional methods of 
agriculture are no longer sufficient to sup¬ 
port the population of this small island 
nation. The need to diversify and modernise 
agriculture, to encourage investment in in¬ 
dustry (including agro-industry) and tour¬ 
ism, has led to the formation of the National 
Development Corporation (NDC). 
First and foremost is the need to create 
more jobs. The NDC places strong empha¬ 
sis on labour-intensive industries using local 
resources. ‘Exotic’ food and fruit process¬ 
ing, coconut, coir and coffee production, 
floriculture, aquaculture, the cultivation and 
preparation of herbs and spices, the manu¬ 
facture of cosmetics, the processing of es¬ 
sential oils, are all products designed for 
export to earn essential foreign exchange 
and to provide a growing number of job 
opportunities. 
Skills training and technology transfer 
are also priorities. Data/entry processing 
encourages high-tech skills; this light indus¬ 
try expects to be employing 300 nationals 
through foreign investment in the near 
future. Electronic assembly plants and gar¬ 
ment manufacturing are both labour inten¬ 
sive and foreign exchange earners targeted 
by the NDC. 
The timber industry is a special case 
requiring very careful management. The 
NDC is aware of the need to preserve forest 
cover to protect the environment and con¬ 
serve watersheds. The demand for timber 
for furniture manufacture and woodwork¬ 
ing must be weighed against the need to 
develop ‘nature’ tourism, and the growing 
demand for Dominica’s high quality natural 
spring water. 
Support for industrial development has 
come through government’s fiscal mea¬ 
sures, expansion of the power grid to pro¬ 
vide energy for industry and tourism, and 
industrial estate development. Government 
also encourages industries to work together, 
complementing each other’s efforts to in¬ 
crease production and earn foreign ex¬ 
change. 
The development of the small business 
and handicraft sector has been given a high 
priority. A unit has been established within 
the NDC to promote and assist in the 
development of that sector. Steps have 
already been taken to further strengthen 
the unit and broaden its scope. Major activi¬ 
ties of the unit include the development of 
training and other technical assistance 
programmes, determining the level of gov¬ 
ernment assistance, and taking a leading 
role in the formation and administration of 
a Small Business Association. The NDC is 
negotiating for the provision of appropri¬ 
ate work-space for small businesses. 
In the tourism industry, stress is being laid 
on hospitality training for hotel staff, taxi 
drivers and tour guides. A 50% increase in 
32 
DOMINICA 
YOUR IDEAL INVESTMENT LOCATION 
IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN 
Because we offer you. . . . 
Attractive investment incentives including import duty 
exemptions on equipment raw and packaging materials, 
and a maximum of 15 years tax holiday. 
Repatriation of profits. 
Industrial sites in prime locations with low factory 
rental rates. 
Ideal hotel sites in natural tropical settings 
for tourism development. 
An advanced telecommunications system. 
Regular shipping and air schedules to the United States, 
Canada and major European ports. 
An English speaking, disciplined and educated work force. 
Low labour rates. 
A stable political climate. 
An environmentally conscious nation. 
Locate your business operations in Dominica and 
benefit from these investment incentives. 
A/Af/OA/Al DFVfLOPMFAfT COPPOPA/ZOA/ 
DIVISION OF INDUSTRY 
VALLEY ROAD, P, O. BOX 293 
ROSEAU, COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA, W. I. 
TEL: (809) 44 82045/6 
TLX: 8642 DOM NDC DO FAX: (809) 44 85840 
NATURE ISLAND OF THE CARIBBEAN 
33 
