Jamaica Business Development Centre staff

The Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) is this year celebrating its seventh anniversary. As part of the celebrations, the JBDC has planned a week of activities that will not only commemorate its work through the years but also be the launching pad for the way forward with the new JBDC Resource Centre set to be opened on Saturday, April 12.

Through the Government of Jamaica (GoJ), European Union (EU) and Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) programmes, the JBDC has also facilitated the development of the cluster-approach initiative. With the recent awarding of five new clusters, the JBDC is now poised to propel the small business industry even further with new and dynamic initiatives in business promotion.

Since opening its doors on April 1, 2001, JBDC has continually fulfilled its mandate of fostering the creation and sustainability of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Jamaica. This they have done by continuously providing training and hand-holding support for the thousands of small business owners who have passed through their doors.

New needs

Assistance has not been office-based only as the JBDC has established a network of business service providers (BSPs) in most parishes. BSPs provide first level JBDC services and also assist in identifying and meeting new needs required by the client group.

Over the years, the centre has developed and implemented various initiatives, which seek to present income-generating business opportunities to individuals or groups. These initiatives include soft toys, banana paper products and ornamental fish. In addition to the initiatives, the JBDC has sought to assist in updating standards and regulatory information to the sector. Hence, the inaugural Small Business Expo.

Exhibits

Scheduled for April 2 at the Hilton Kingston ballroom, the expo will feature exhibits from 30 companies, including financial institutions, regulatory bodies and standards organisations. Additionally, the expo will focus on particular business segments with the staging of seminars throughout the day. Topics to be discussed includes: 'Writing a successful business plan and identifying business ideas', 'Technology in Small Business' and 'Marketing a Small Business from a Big Business Perspective'.

The JBDC also hosts and participates in a number of national and internationally funded projects. These projects are aimed at enhancing the MSME sector with special emphasis on youth and women. These projects include: Building Youth for National Development (BYND), Japan/JBDC Banana Fibre project, JBDC/DBJ Fund Programme, JBDC/Development Options/TPDCo Tourism Fund, the EU Private Sector Development Project and the MSEs Financial Guarantee Facility.