The Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) is collaborating with the Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, the St. Mark Steering Committee for Business Development, the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and the Grenada Rural Enterprise Development Project (GREP) in planning the Forum, which is scheduled to take place at the Victoria Hotel on July 21.

The Forum will guide the process by which an Economic Development Plan can be formulated in keeping with the needs of the people and the resources of the Parish.

The Survey seeks to determine the status of formal and informal businesses in the Parish; and contains some 70 questions relating to Business Procedures, Sales and Markets, Staff, the use of Information Technology, Labeling and other pertinent issues.

Areas of business identified in the Survey comprise:

• Agriculture
• Farming
• Fishing
• Agro-processing;
• Communication and Information Technology;
• Construction;
• Manufacturing;
• Personal and Household Services;
• Real Estate and Business Services;
• Recreation and Cultural Services;
• Restaurants and Hotels;
• Wholesale and Retail Trade;
• Garment Industry;
• Transport and Storage;
• Health Care;
• Education and Training;
• Social Services.

The Survey is expected to be completed during the course of the week, with seven ARD enumerators in the field.