JBDC to implement Small Business Development Centre next month

BY KARENA BENNETT Business Observer bennettk@jamaicaobserver

Wednesday, December 31, 2014    

The Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) believes that by adapting the United States Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) model Jamaica could see improvement in productivity and growth of the local business sector.

SBDC, which is the main source of technical assistance for small businesses in the US, has retained over 158,000 jobs, established 24,500 new businesses and generated fiscal revenue of over US$539 million ($60.9 billion) in that country. This has prompted the JBDC to have a model of the development centre implemented locally by the end of next month.

“We are not in a position to say when this will be officially implemented or launched, but await specific directives from the minister of industry who will announce its launch in short order,” chief executive officer of the JBDC Valerie Veira told the Jamaica Observer.

The centre will focus on three key areas that cover the needs of start-ups as well as established businesses. The programme will include free one-on-one confidential and long-term technical assistance for small businesses, group training focused on subjects of interest to small businesses and market research specifically tailored to meet clients’ needs.

The services should improve the productivity of small businesses, while generating economic impact that creates new jobs, increases revenues, strengthens and diversifies the formal economy and promotes stability and growth, according to the JBDC.

“The JBDC mandate currently focuses on providing business development support for MSMEs and it is the vision of our ministry to move to the SBDC model, which focuses on the growth of SMEs through the strengthening of their management systems,” Veira told the Business Observer.

“We will therefore broaden our core services to include the three key areas that cover the needs of start-ups and established businesses as outlined in the SBDC Model,” she added.

In 2012, the intervention of the small business development centre in the US resulted in the average business increasing its sales from 4.3 per cent to 18.9 per cent year over year. Similarly, small businesses also obtained US$3.4 billion in new financing, while benefiting from assistance in exporting their products or services.

Once the businesses started to see improvements in revenue and productivity, employment levels increased from 1.2 per cent to 13.6 per cent yearly, according to statistics presented by the JBDC.

The programme will require the general public, academics and the private sector to jointly invest efforts and funds in order to guarantee the sustainability of the programme, eliminate inefficiencies and work duplication. Additionally, model supervisors will evaluate the economic impact of the development centre on each business client to monitor its effect on local businesses.

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JBDC to implement Small Business Development Centre next month

Ministry to implement animal tagging system

Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 9:07 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Agriculture will go ahead with plans of the late Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke to have animals – including pigs, sheep and goats – tagged under the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS).

Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dervan Spence said that while much attention has been placed on the tagging of cattle as part of efforts to combat praedial larceny, all animals will eventually be included in the system.

He was addressing pig farmers and other stakeholders at the 12th annual general meeting of the Jamaica Pig Farmers Association (JPFA), at the Golf View hotel in Mandeville, on September 25.

Spence said the animal tags are now on the island and the ministry is in the process of increasing its stakeholder sensitisation and public education sessions, to ensure the highest level of understanding and cooperation as the programme is implemented.

He pointed out that in relation to pigs, the computer software used for cattle tracking will be adapted to support the system to trace and monitor pigs from the farm to processing, packaging and export.

The Chief Technical Director also informed that while the national animal tagging system is expected to have the spin-off effect of aiding the Government’s praedial larceny efforts, the system is primarily aimed at addressing animal health, identification and traceability.

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Ministry to implement animal tagging system

JMA urges govt to implement policies to stimulate investment

Latest News

Friday, August 23, 2013 | 3:17

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) says it is encouraged with Jamaica’s passing of the first International Monetary Fund (IMF) test and lauded the Government and the independent oversight committee headed by Richard Byles, for ensuring that the nation was “on the right track”. The JMA in a statement Friday said it is “appeased that Jamaica’s fiscal performance exceeded projections and urged Government to continue on the path to ensuring that the pillars of the IMF agreement are met”.However, the Association said that while the Government had achieved this mark, it is calling for the implementation of policies that will stimulate investment, create well-needed employment and put Jamaica on a path for growth, as this was the real measure of success.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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JMA urges govt to implement policies to stimulate investment

St Lucia Government to implement projects under Taiwan assisted CDP

Business

Friday, July 19, 2013

CASTRIES, St Lucia – The St Lucia government Wednesday said it is moving swiftly to implementing community projects under the Constituency Development Programme (CDP) with financial assistance from the Taiwanese government.The Kenny Anthony government said as a result of the grants provided by Taiwan, it has allocated EC$24 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) to the CDP this financial year.A government statement said that since the start of the financial year, 120 contracts, valued at five million dollars, had been awarded under the CDP.It said projects in all 17 constituencies will benefit from the programme “in the form of new infrastructure such as the construction of roads, drains, footpaths, retaining walls and steps.“One of the greatest benefits of the CDP is that it engages community contractors and creates employment for hundreds of residents within the various communities where projects are being implemented,” the statement added.— CMCThe Kenny Anthony government said as a result of the grants provided by Taiwan, it has allocated EC$24 million to the CDP this financial year.

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St Lucia Government to implement projects under Taiwan assisted CDP