Chamber Welcomes ‘Charter for Change’ but Says Delivery on Commitments Is Critical

Isle of Chamber of Commerce has broadly welcomed the ‘Charter for Change’ announced this week by the Chief Minister, but it now wants to see actions that lead to delivery on the Charter’s commitments.

Chamber President Claire Watterson says the Island’s largest business network welcomes the Charter’s ‘clear economic ambition’, and the ‘an Island that means business’ commitment. She added: “This is a good starting point, but it must lead to actions that support economic growth. This is why Chamber wants to work with Government and the wider business community to turn the Charter into an economic strategy and a delivery plan that gets moving quickly. We welcome the fact that the Charter is broadly aligned with Chamber’s views and those of our members, particularly because it recognises that the Island’s future prosperity depends on decisions made across all Government departments.”

Chamber recently published the actions that the business community wants to see government prioritise to drive economic growth. It’s ‘Future Economy Framework’ and ‘Conditions for Growth’ strategy papers can be found on www.iomchamber.org.im. Many of the goals in these papers, said the Chamber President, are echoed in the Government’s Charter for Change. She added: “Skills, housing, connectivity, regulation and effective public services all feature in the papers we have published. We also highlighted longstanding concerns about the size of government, and delays and complexity which affect business confidence when making decisions about future investment. In this context it is encouraging to see that the Charter recognises that Government is currently too big, too complicated and too slow in too many places.”

Chamber also makes the following comments about the Charter for Change:

• Delivery: Chamber is pleased to see that the Charter aims to do fewer things so they get done. It also commits to a fuller plan in the New Year, with responsibilities, timescales and measures of progress. But, adds Chamber, the detail of that plan will be the real test.
• Working together: Where an opportunity crosses departmental boundaries, businesses need co-ordinated decisions and clear ownership. The Charter says its actions will be developed with Tynwald and other stakeholders. Chamber wants to contribute while those actions are being shaped.

Summing up, the Chamber President commented: “Our Conditions for Growth document includes 10 priorities to provide a practical starting point to create an economic strategy that helps established businesses grow, supports investment and exports. The Island also needs to establish an environment which attracts inward investment and encourages innovation to create new opportunities. The Charter for Change is a good starting point as a first step towards making that happen, but the business community has heard similar bold promises before from previous governments. The new administration needs to demonstrate to the business community that this time things will be different, and that fine words will be turned into actions that drive positive changes across government to support much needed economic growth.”

Chamber’s Conditions for Growth paper includes the following 10 priorities:

1. Put sustainable economic growth first
2. Create a world-class environment for business
3. Modernise Government delivery and decision-making
4. Build a skilled, talented and future-ready workforce
5. Accelerate the knowledge economy, innovation and human capability
6. Unlock housing and population growth to support the economy
7. Create a strong international proposition for the Isle of Man
8. Invest in infrastructure and connectivity that enable growth
9. Improve economic intelligence, data and accountability
10. Shape the economy of tomorrow