KINGSTON, Jamaica — With billions of dollars in government contracts available to Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), yet relatively few taking advantage of the opportunities, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is seeking closer collaboration with the MSME Alliance to help more Jamaican entrepreneurs access government procurement contracts.
The Corporation has identified government procurement, working capital and market access as priority areas for its engagement with the Alliance’s newly elected President, Mohan Beckford, whom it has congratulated on his appointment.
Chief Executive Officer of the JBDC, Daenia Ashpole, said that while considerable progress has been made in strengthening the capacity of Jamaica’s Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), more must be done to translate business development support into tangible economic opportunities.
“We have made significant progress in building business capacity, but market access and cash flow remain major challenges. Our shared objective must be measurable results, not activity alone,” Ashpole noted.
The proposed collaboration builds on discussions held on September 21, 2026 between the JBDC, the MSME Alliance, the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) and the Young Entrepreneurs Association (YEA), where stakeholders explored challenges affecting small business development and opportunities for greater institutional cooperation at the JBDC Headquarters.
Among the areas of concern is the relatively low participation of MSMEs in government procurement, despite provisions designed to increase their access to public contracts.
Under the Government’s procurement framework, Ashpole notes that, “law already reserves 20% of public procurement for MSMEs. Figures show some J$36 billion awarded through about 29,000 small contracts between 2023 and 2026, averaging roughly J$1.25 million each. These contracts represent opportunities within reach of MSMEs. Yet fewer than a thousand businesses applied to the Government’s Supplier Registration System last year, in a country with approximately 425,000 MSMEs. That is roughly one in four hundred.”
However, fewer than 1,000 businesses applied to the Government’s Supplier Registration System last year, against an estimated 425,000 MSMEs operating in Jamaica. The figures point to a gap between the opportunities available and the ability of small businesses to access them.
For many entrepreneurs, particularly micro business operators, tax compliance, regulatory requirements and the preparation of financial statements can pose significant obstacles to participating in government procurement.
The JBDC believes that targeted assistance to help businesses satisfy these requirements could improve their readiness to compete for public contracts, creating an opportunity for closer collaboration with the Alliance.
Beyond securing contracts, the Corporation has also identified access to working capital as a critical issue requiring attention.
For small businesses, winning a contract is often only half the battle. Entrepreneurs must still find the resources to purchase raw materials, finance production and meet payroll obligations, sometimes weeks or months before receiving payment.
This financing gap can prevent otherwise viable businesses from taking advantage of opportunities that could support their growth.
“A confirmed contract or purchase order should carry weight when a small business applies for working capital,” Ashpole stated.
The JBDC is therefore interested in working alongside the Alliance to advance discussions on financing mechanisms that better recognise the commercial potential of confirmed orders and contracts.
Internationalisation via Things Jamaican
Seeking to play an impactful role in the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce’s (MIIC) push for increased export, market access is an area in which the Corporation sees opportunities for practical collaboration.
Through its Things Jamaican retail network, the JBDC currently sources products from more than 600 Jamaican suppliers, providing an established platform through which local entrepreneurs can connect with consumers.
Its retail location at Norman Manley International Airport also offers businesses an opportunity to reach international travellers, creating exposure for Jamaican-made products beyond the domestic market.
“As we strengthen Things Jamaican as a route to market, both at home and abroad, we want members of this Alliance to have a clear pathway to those opportunities,” Ashpole noted.
The JBDC is also advocating for stronger information-sharing among organisations supporting MSMEs to improve the monitoring and evaluation of business development interventions.
This would allow stakeholders to move beyond measuring the number of programmes and activities undertaken, towards assessing outcomes such as businesses registered, procurement bids submitted, contracts awarded, financing secured and products successfully placed in the market.
Ashpole also commended outgoing MSME Alliance President, Antoinette Hamilton for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of Jamaica’s small business community.
With Beckford assuming the presidency, the JBDC is seeking to build on existing dialogue with the MSME Alliance.
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