Kingston, Jamaica – The topic of strategic partnerships was high on the agenda at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC’s) ‘Breakfast with the CEO’ as key stakeholders met on the 4th of April at the AC Hotel in Kingston, to discuss their inputs as it relates to interventions for the development and success of the Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) sector.
Valerie Veira, Chief Executive Officer at the JBDC, highlighted the importance of collaboration, “As we enter into the new budget year, we are looking forward to even a stronger relationship in the new period. Unless we partner, we will not achieve our common goal of creating an enabling business environment for our MSMEs. JBDC is looking forward to a strengthened relationship as we march forward.”
Ms. Veira says the agency acts as ‘Network Broker’ in forging strategic partnerships to help reshape the MSME landscape, where micro businesses can scale-up and move into big businesses. As the Agency’s first event planned for the new fiscal year April 2024 to March 2025, the JBDC with the mandate of driving entrepreneurial success, renews its commitment to supporting MSMEs ‘From Concept to Market’.
While lauding the initiative, Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC), commended the JBDC for its efforts “to get MSMEs at a place where they can manage”.
He added that Jamaica’s MSMEs, a significant contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
and the country’s overall sustainable economic development, “Must become known regionally and internationally as more efficient manufacturers of goods and ever improving crafters of ingenious services that people will buy”. This is dependent on a business environment that works together for the success of the ‘nation’s backbone’ – MSMEs.
Zoning in the on the 2018 MSME & Entrepreneurship Policy, which emphasises the need for the creation of “An Enabling business environment’ the roundtable discussion led by JBDC also featured the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA), and Trade Board Limited. The conversation highlighted initiatives surrounding Tax & Incentive Structure, Legal, Regulatory & Administrative Framework, Energy Costs, Informality, Government Procurement, Internationalisation of MSMEs, etc.
Four (4) entrepreneurs also received JBDC B.O.S.S OF THE YEAR awards for 2023. Eileen Dunkley-Shim of Nettys Farm and Kemisha Oates of Body by Roxanne won B.O.S.S LADY OF THE YEAR and Runner-Up B.O.S.S LADY OF THE YEAR, respectively, while Wouter Tjeertes of Pure Chocolate and Richard James Robinson of Gemisis Jamaica won B.O.S.S MAN OF THE YEAR and Runner-Up B.O.S.S MAN OF THE YEAR, respectively.
The JBDC is an agency of MIIC.
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