The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) in support of the national effort to stimulate growth in the economy will through its celebrations for Global Entrepreneurship Week present a programme designed to further engage the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) sector to participate in the development process.
Under the theme ‘Going for GROWTH’, the JBDC’s GEW 2015 activities will provide MSMEs with information and direct access to services to facilitate the formalization and growth of their businesses. It will also be an environment to network with other companies that could impact their businesses positively.
Chief Executive Officer of the JBDC, Valerie Veira notes that now is an important time for MSMEs to get the assistance required to grow their businesses. “JBDC as the government agency mandated to lead the development of MSMEs has remained consistent to its mission particularly over the past year through our Mobile Business Clinic Initiative aimed at empowering our client group to move their business through the growth process. Through this initiative, JBDC will continue the conversation while inviting our partners, both public and private to continue to help MSMEs in the process,” she commented.
Scheduled for November 16-21, 2015, the Scotiabank and Jamaica Yellow Pages-sponsored week of activities will include Business Clinics (Biz Connects) at JBDC Satellite Centres in Montego Bay (Nov. 17), Savanna-la-Mar (Nov. 18) Ocho Rios and Mandeville (Nov. 19). The Biz Connects provide an environment in which one-on-one consultations and business information will be provided through the participation of private and public sector agencies that have partnered with JBDC for the week.
The week of activities will also include the hosting of a Business Dialogue Forum, a Thought Leadership Conference and two Business Seminars, all designed to expound on the week’s theme. The Business Dialogue Forum opens the week on November 16 at the University of the West Indies’s Regional Centre and will feature an outstanding panel of speakers who will discuss the theme from a balanced perspective.
The Thought Leadership Conference will look at the challenges which have prevented economic growth in the past and more specifically at how MSMEs can contribute to future economic growth of the country. Speakers include Dennis Chung, Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), Dr. Kadamawe K’nIfe, Director of Office of Social Entrepreneurship & Youth Crime Watch and Althea West-Myers, Business Advisory Services Manager at the JBDC.
Other elements of the Thought Leadership Conference include the JBDC Open House at which the National Needs Assessment Survey for MSMEs in Jamaica will be launched, along with several complimentary presentations on Product Development including Branding, Packaging and Visual Communications. This event will be held at the JBDC Incubator & Resource Centre on November 19 commencing at 9:00 am. The JBDC Incubator & Resource Centre is located at Unit 10a, 76 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 13.
The week of activities culminates with two Business Seminars. On November 20, the JBDC will host a Seminar at the Terra Nova All-Suites Hotel titled “Identifying Strategies for Business Expansion”. This will be facilitated by Marcia Woon-Choy, Business Coach and Chief Executive Officer of ActionCOACH Jamaica and has a registration cost of $5000.00 per person. Registration is accessible online at www.jbdc.net or by calling 930-8531.
Our main partner, Scotiabank Jamaica joins forces with the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship to present their annual business seminar on November 21 titled ‘Build a Winning Team’. The workshop will be facilitated by the company culture Wizards from Virgin Holidays (Justine Mercer – Learning & Development Specialist, Lauren D Richardson – Recruitment Advisory and Patrick Dunning – Advisor). Public registration is $5000.00 while Branson Entrepreneurs enjoy a registration cost of $3000.00 per person. Registration may be done at www.bransoncentre.co or by calling 632-5134.
All other events during the week are FREE of cost to the public and by invitation, where noted. Details of the week’s activities will be available in the press as well as on JBDC’s website, www.jbdc.net.
JBDC’s GEW 2015 activities are sponsored by Scotiabank and the Jamaica Yellow Pages, with associate sponsors Jamaica Observer, Wealth Magazine, TVJ and RJR 94 FM. Other partners include the Development Bank of Jamaica, JN Small Business Loans Limited and Tax Administration Jamaica.
Chariman: Brian Pengellay | CEO: Miss Valerie Veira
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An Agency of the Ministry of Industry Investment & Commerce
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Contact: Corporate Communications Unit
JBDC
Tel: 928-5161-5, exts 244, 274 or 277, SL: 930-8531
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Website: www.jbdc.net
