The Budding Ministry of New Growth Industries

Minister Kareem Musa also gave an update on his other portfolio, New Growth Industries. The concept of developing a cannabis industry and its accompanying referendum was shelved back in 2022, after there was overwhelming pushback by various groups. It’s been almost three years in office and Minister Musa says that there are many new private-sector led businesses and industries that have support from other ministries.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries

“The ministry certainly has been trailblazing in terms of conceptually in terms of igniting a fire amongst the private sector like you mention: cohune, ostriches, boot-making. We are set to receive the first two hundred and fifty boots from Miss Nancy Marin and her company Umbraland this week, this Friday. And so that is a momentous occasion for us to put our money where our mouth is. If we are saying we are going to encourage small businesses, let us buy locally. That is something that I have always pushed that I always support. And so I look forward to receiving those boots. And so there are many other industries, there is the seaweed industry, all of these things. Again, led by the private sector, but there are also ministries, like the Blue Economy, who are helping out in those areas. And so, it is a budding ministry and I am hoping that next year we can see a significant investment in our ministry so that we can have the technical personnel on board to assist us.”