Cadiz was speaking at the Brand Introduction of phase one of TTBizlink at the Hyatt in Port of Spain. And he invited companies and individuals to begin using the system immediately.
"I urge our business community to assist us with the roll-out of this project which is designed to facilitate more efficient and transparent Government services, which in turn will support greater business turnover and by extension a truly competitive nation," he said.
Cadiz acknowledged that the concept for TTBizLink started with the former government.
However he said once briefed on the project "we not only endorsed, but accelerated its implementation, as any mature and responsible Government should, given its potential to revolutionize the way we do business in Trinidad and Tobago."
The minister said Trinidad and Tobago is not where it should be on several global indices of international competitiveness.
He added that while the country ranks among the top 40 in the world with respect to getting credit and protecting investors "we are nowhere satisfactory, in terms of trading across borders, starting a business, closing a business, enforcing contracts, registering property and constructions approvals."
He noted that TTBizLink on-line services will address many of those impediments, particularly with respect to trading across borders and starting a business.
He said the TTBizlink services will also strengthen Trinidad and Tobago's international position in terms of attracting investors, specifically through facilitating applications for fiscal incentives and work permits applications.
Cadiz said the Government of Trinidad and Tobago acknowledges that the imperative for the future is that the private sector must mobilize its capital in developing countries to shift the mantle of growth from the public sector because of the fiscal constraints being faced by many Governments.
In addition, he said, government agrees on the need to focus on building the fundamentals of competitiveness.
He said the building blocks to stimulating the economy and putting the country on a steady course to economic growth are greater market access, increased innovation, better infrastructure, transparent border administration and most important of all, an efficient business environment. "In fact, these are priority areas for the administration," he said.
With respect to better infrastructure the minister pointed out that only last week the Prime Minister turned the sod to start construction of the billion-dollar 47km highway from San Fernando to Point Fortin.
"The Government is committed to the more efficient use of our resources, by strengthening capacity, harnessing potential, prioritizing projects and improving the quality of service delivery. Our strategy is to grow the economy by facilitating business, trade and investment. It is quite simply, to MAKE BUSINESS EASY!" he declared.
"We believe that well-designed IT infrastructure initiatives, aligned with business process re-engineering will play a pivotal role in positioning Government to be more effective and transparent.
"Trinidad and Tobago is well on its way through the development of information technologies, telecommunications and Internet infrastructure...ICT is a major pillar in this Government’s development plan for the country and the platform for all areas of the economy - trade and business, legal, security, health, education - to rise to international standards," Cadiz told his audience.
"TTBizLink is not being implemented in isolation to other initiatives. This project as already mentioned, will complement and support other Government activities, in particular those being developed by one of our key partners - the Ministry of Public Administration," he said.
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