Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oniedge Waldron, believes that due to the Government’s interventions, small businesses across the country have been experiencing increased growth and expansion, to the point that a number of them are now being engaged in exports.

At a press conference, the Commerce Minister said increased financing and training especially by the Small Business Bureau, have resulted in businesses being strategically placed to take on challenges and to grow.

She said although the Government has been providing funding for a number of small businesses, there was still a gap which existed on how those businesses conduct their affairs.

Many of the small businesses are now exposed to training in the areas of management, marketing, and customer service.

“Two thousand businesses so far have benefited from the small business development training. Additionally, the department of commerce have processed significant number of applications for registrations for businesses. Approximately 723 businesses were established by our business registration hubs in Regions 7, 8 and 9 and these are remote communities that would not have ready access to be able to register their business”, Walrond said.

Additionally, she explained that her Ministry has also been partnering with the Human Services Ministry to provide collateral free loans to persons living with disabilities. Over 20 persons and their small businesses have benefited from that initiative.

It was pointed out that the Ministry has noted that there are a number of businesses that do not have their documentation in order, and efforts are underway to assist them.

“And that is the way, they will be able to expand and grow and be able to take advantage of opportunities and getting contracts, expanding for exports etc, and so registration of business has been critical initiative and via our business registration hubs in these areas we have been able to register over 730 businesses and  I think that is pretty significant in regions 7,8, and 9 but we continue to do it in other regions as well but this is pretty significant,” the  Minister noted.

The Minister said many of the small businesses that have been established through the Ministry’s business incubator process, are now reaping the benefits and are seeing growth.

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