The Centre will improve collaboration among micro and small enterprises and increase networking among business support organizations.

The Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs will, next week, launch the Saint Lucia leg of the Small Business Development Centre, in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).  

Roselyn St. Hill Howell, Business Development Officer at the Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU), said the launch is part of a week of activities held under the theme “Get Connected through the SBDC Network.”  

“The Small Enterprise Development Unit is mandated by law to provide micro and small businesses with the technical framework that will help grow those businesses in order to build economic impact,” she said.

 “It was agreed that we would implement a business centre model that would provide for greater collaboration between micro and small enterprises, and a framework for business support organizations to network. We have been in dialogue with our partners, and there was a MOU signed with nine other partners to move in the direction of forming the centre.”

Mrs. Howell explained that the model went through a number of reviews including a March 2012 consultation. Training programs for those chosen to develop the networking framework followed.

The launching of the Small Business Development Centre will be held on Nov. 19, at the Bay Gardens Hotel.