Former president of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), Kenny Green, and newly elected president Stephen Lander have spoken on innovative ways to move the association forward in the post-COVID-19 era. Both executives spoke on “Boosting Dominica’s Private Sector through Financial Solutions and Services” at the recently concluded AGM of the association on August 20.
According to Lander, country manager of First Caribbean International Bank (FCIB), being elected as the new president of DAIC is an honour given the many strides already attained by former president Kenny Green. He noted that he is not unaware of the many challenges facing the industry and commerce association but is ready to tackle them head-on and so expects the coming year to be an exciting one in terms of hurdles and victories.
“We know the context of the environment that we are in, the challenges that we have been faced with, with the advent of COVID-19 and what impact that it has had on the economy,” Lander said. “It is something that I look forward to, working with the board on in terms of how we navigate those waters and create an economic environment where the private sector can thrive. I don’t think that hope is lost; there is much that we can do.”
The new DAIC president appreciated Green for laying a solid foundation for the association to thrive and upon which he can build new initiatives.
Green in his keynote address noted that the association under his leadership had been working hard to diversify its sources of revenue generation, given that members traditionally pay dues to keep the association afloat and free of financial embarrassment. He also recalled his efforts to increase the membership of the association with a view to making it stronger for targeted objectives.
“Over the years, the DAIC has simply broken even as a non-profit organization, with no stipend and no extra financing outside of membership dues,” Green stated. “Going forward, we expect new partnerships and initiatives to drive new revenue paths to allow the Chamber to become more proactive and effective in driving services for members and the wider private sector.”
Both former and present presidents said they will work together to engage new members, open new markets, and recruit service providers so that Dominican goods and services can reach regional and international consumers. “Given the number of engagements we have facilitated and actions that have come from those engagements, we are on the right track,” Green said.
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