AN OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE COMMUNITY BUSINESS REVITALIZATION PROJECT WILL BE HELD ON AUG. 22.
The Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs will be hosting the opening ceremony for the Community Business Revitalization Project.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME’s) in Saint Lucia have been a major concern to government policy makers given the immense chaos that the business community has experienced in recent years, through the COVID-19 pandemic, distortions in trade supplies and the escalating costs of commodities.
The Community Business Revitalization Project aims to provide much-needed financial relief to the small business community and reinvigorate and modernize the way in which MSMEs operate in Saint Lucia.
Investigations have revealed that there is a noticeable lack of business thrust and development which compromises the sales figures of MSMEs within the communities earmarked for assistance under the project. Consequently, the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with Taiwan’s International Co-operation and Development Fund (ICDF) has partnered on a four-year project from June 2023 to June 2027 with a geographical focus on Soufriere, Laborie, Dennery and Castries. It is anticipated that the project will facilitate the creation of jobs within communities, ensure steady income flows, reduce vulnerability because of proper risk management tools, and increase investments in human capital.
The core objectives of the Community Business Revitalization Project are:
- To strengthen the Ministry of Commerce’s capacity building skills and competencies to provide the necessary coaching, guidance and mentorship to MSMEs;
- To aid MSMEs in communities to market and strengthen product design;
- To help encourage MSME’s to develop branding and promotion of their product.
The first opening ceremony of the community business revitalization project will be held on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Public Service Training Institute, Union, Castries.
For further information on this activity please contact Mr. Alvinaus Simon, Business Development Officer, SBDC at 468-4249 or 725-2906.