Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaica’s premiere business development agency, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will roll out a week of activities to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2023. The global celebration of entrepreneurs will kick-start on November 12 to November 19, under the theme, GEW D.R.I.V.E. – Developing Rich Industry Value Chains for Exports.
Harold Davis, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the JBDC says that, “The agency has a responsibility to create new opportunities for MSMEs by facilitating industry development through value chain creation to ultimately boost exports”. With the 1-week GEW activities, JBDC will continue to highlight and stimulate emerging and existing manufacturing industries, particularly those served by our Incubator & Resource Centre (IRC), including craft, fashion, essential oils and Agro-processing. These industries stand to contribute immensely to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Jamaica’s export agenda.
The Church Service will mark the launch of the GEW activities and celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the JBDC’s Things Jamaican™ brand at the Portmore New Testament Church of God on Sunday November 12 at 8:45pm.
The JBDC Incubator & Resource Centre will come alive on Monday November 13 at 10am for the Official Opening of the Agro-processing Incubator, a Jamaica Harvest Specialty Food Challenge followed by the JBDC Business Dialogue panel discussion under the topic, ‘Going Global: Planting and Packaging Brand Jamaica for Export’. The Agro-processing incubator is funded by the European Union and managed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The incubator will actively grow exports nationally in keeping with development targets for the sector.
Entrepreneurs can join the third activity on Tuesday November 14, Opportunity Hour & Demo Day a spinoff of the JBDC’s Opportunity Evening event to highlight the services of the recently constructed Essential Oils incubator as well as showcase the oil extraction process and the different uses of the oils in the production process.
The establishment of both the Essential oils incubator and the Agro-processing Incubator represents the achievement of the JBDC’s strategic objective to drive new business opportunities along industry value chains by establishing two industry specific incubators by 2023.
The Fashion & Artisanal Showcase on Wednesday, November 15 is inspired by the popular ‘GRWM’ social media trend. The JBDC has trained over 100 artisans in the art of Jadire. Several of them have since commercialised. Pieces from these producers will be on full display. The aim is to demonstrate how fashion and craft industries complement each other through shared production and retailing.
Entrepreneurs will gather for the Raising Capital Mini Business Expo on Thursday, November 16. The event will feature one-on-one consultations with exhibitors including; JMMB, TAJ, Bureau of Standards, EXIM Bank and First Heritage Credit Union. Presentations and a panel discussion will also be held.
Over sixty (60) producers and sellers of authentic Jamaican products will gather at the JBDC Corporate office (14 Camp Road, Kingston 4) display of products in the following categories: Food, Fashion, Fashion Accessories, Aromatherapy, Home & Home Accents and Souvenirs on Friday, November 17 at the 60th Anniversary Celebration & Early Christmas Trade show. The event will run from 9:00am-4:00pm and will also feature product samples, discounts and giveaways. The day will close out with JBDC’s B.O.S.S Awards where stellar entrepreneurs in the MSME space will be awarded.
All activities for November 13-16 are sponsored by Sagicor Bank and will be held at the JBDC Incubator & Resource Centre, Unit 10a, 76 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 13. All sessions commence at 10:00am with the exception of Monday (Nov. 13) which begins at 12:30pm.
Visit https://www.jbdc.net/gew2023/ for more information. The JBDC is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC).
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