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New competitiveness strategy for ailing South Carolina

A 116 page report by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness was released last month. It contains a detailed strategy for the state on how to become more competitive nationally and internationally.

The 50-member council which was formed in 2004 is made up of business and community leaders from across South Carolina, including Govenor Mark Sanford who is an honorary member.

The group has been working on implementing the findings of a 2003 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter. His suggestion was that South Carolina develop their economy by encouraging the development of clusters.

The council initially identified six clusters that could become more competitive by collaborating more closely - agriculture, apparel, automotive, textiles, travel and tourism and fuel cell technology. In its latest study, the group said it shall now work on creating other potential clusters with aviation, forest products and health sciences in the pipeline.

Also, the report said South Carolina must continue to improve its education system and worker-training programs if it is to compete for those types of high-tech, "advanced processing" jobs.

Other long-term goals include:

• Target more investment in research and the state's university system, focusing on areas that are aligned with the needs of the clusters
• Launch marketing campaigns that stress "a can-do mentality in South Carolina," which, in turn, will attract leading companies and talented people
• Increase support for startup and local businesses by adopting policies that streamline regulations and encourage expansion

"We are optimistic that this strategy will eventually help the state leverage its competitive advantages to become more of a global player in the world economy," said state Commerce Secretary Bob Faith, a council member.

Source: Sun News