The OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency’s Technical Assistance and Coaching Programme launched on July 8, 2020 with the aim of strengthening the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of 14 selected young entrepreneurs from six countries of the Eastern Caribbean.
In her remarks at the virtually held launch event Caribbean Exports’ Services Specialist – Allyson Francis, underscored the importance of the private sector and youth owned businesses, in particular, for sustainable economic growth in the Caribbean.
“Youth are the future. Their businesses are a critical foundation for sustainable economic growth in the region and so we must invest in them and their businesses.”
Funding for this technical assistance and coaching programme comes via the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, which the Agency is currently implementing.
“Caribbean Export implemented a similar coaching programme for women owned businesses which was very successful, and so I encourage the participants to leverage the knowledge and expertise of the coaches and to build a network between one another” she continued.
The programme pursues three main objectives, namely:
- assisting entrepreneurs to clarify their vision and develop achievable goals that can be translated into tangible results;
- assisting entrepreneurs to develop transformative business models and strategies that enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth; and
- providing technical support to set entrepreneurs on a path towards export readiness.
The beneficiaries of the OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency’s Technical Assistance and Coaching Programme were targeted through national Business Service Organisations and the “OECS 30 under 30” programme. From 21 applications, 14 companies have been selected to participate in the three-month coaching programme from both the services and goods sectors.
The group of young entrepreneurs will benefit from a highly experienced team of coaches in multiple areas such as business plan development, financial analysis, operations management, sales, marketing and branding, human resource management, proposal development, product development and quality assurance, legal and regulatory environment, ethical and sustainable business trends, information and communication technologies and e-commerce, and creative industries among others.
The coaching programme also includes the completion of a comprehensive analysis of each beneficiary companies and the development of individual strategies which will address their specific issues.
In closing, OECS and Caribbean Export reaffirmed the intention to continue to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Eastern Caribbean through complementary projects which will be launched in the future.
| Company | Entrepreneur’s name | Country | Sector |
| Shop D Caribbean | Darrion Louis | Saint Lucia | Information Communication Technology (ICT) |
| LinkUp | Kenna Questelles George | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Information Communication Technology (ICT) |
| The Two Aces | Lou-anne Mauricette | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Information Communication Technology (ICT) |
| Zénaïde Aromatherapy | Zanda Desir | Saint Lucia | Manufacturing |
| Mec Designs | Mauisa Carbon | Antigua and Barbuda | Manufacturing |
| T & A Household Decor | Amy Antoine | Saint Lucia | Manufacturing |
| Adroit | Tonnie Pierre | Grenada | Agribusiness |
| Cronneit’s Forest Bows | Denny Cronneit | Grenada | Manufacturing |
| Flirt Cocktails | Hyacinth Richardson | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Agribusiness & Manufacturing |
| Mangal Trading Incorporation | Nila Mangal | Saint Lucia | Agribusiness |
| Akata Farms | Bevon Chadel Charles | Grenada | Agribusiness |
| My Crown Of Curls | Ranique John | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Agribusiness & Manufacturing |
| Emerald Solar and Wind Ltd | Nicholas Sander | Montserrat | Renewable Energy |
| Caribi Dreams | Mr. Maurice John | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Renewable Energy |
About Caribbean Export
Caribbean Export is a regional export development and trade and investment promotion organisation of the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) currently executing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Export’s mission is to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality export development and trade and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic alliances.
More information about Caribbean Export can be found at www.carib-export.com
Not one Dominican put forward by our Government! Not one Dominican youth to represent export development for Dominica! Because it is not Labour priority. They will sell passports until the demand dries up and then what? Even Montserrat that was almost destroyed by volcano is represented but Labour will make excuses for our failure in Agriculture and exporting industries by telling you hurricanes, hurricanes! When you raise the real concerns and issues Labour supporters play politics and tell you is because you not patriotic! How idiotic! Dominica was once the breadbasket of the OECS and exporting Agricultural produce toupatou! Labour F for failure! Maybe Green or Nanton should have represented Dominica passports exports!
OMG!!!!! no one from DCA!! what an embarrassment!
Let me start firstly by commending the OECS and Caribbean Export Development for putting on this coaching programme in place. I hope it does not stop there and these young entrepreneurs willl be mentored for the initial years in business and have access to financing.
In the same breath, as I went through the list of companies, I couldn’t hold my emotions when there was none from Dominica. Many things went through my mind and decided to asked these questions to the concerned parties.
1. Is it that our young persons in Dominica not interested in entrepreneurship ?
2. Did the information reached the right young entrepreneurs in Dominica?
3. Are our young entrepreneurs in Dominica not good enough to compete with their regional counterparts?
4. Is young entrepreneurship not a priority in Dominica?
DNO could you help me get the answers to these questions.
Thamks in advance.
I saw no mention of a Dominican Business Why so???
I did not see any company from Dominica, guess selling passport is all we have and all we plan to export, selling passports and begging for international Aid is the pillar of Dominica economy, it’s a terrible situation feel sorry for the next generation guess they will leave island like those before them did.
Dominicans don’t bother with things like that. They don’t have to work. All they have to do is get the red DLP Party bible, sign up for DLP party membership and spew a bit of Skerrit propaganda and voila they qualify for NEP, Red clinic handouts and even a new house. Dominica is the land of milk and honey!
This all will end exactly like Venezuela ended. Mark my words, I give it a maximum of 5 years!
No Dominicans, under this young PM we want handouts. We doh want to work and start businesses.
Not one Dominican entrepreneur made it on the list of 14 beneficiaries:
St Lucia 4
St Vincent and the Grenadines 4
Grenada 3
Antigua and Barbuda 1
St Kitts and Nevis 1
Montserrat 1
I wonder why? Is it because the OECS Export Unit is based at the Financial Centre in Roseau, Dominica or is it because Dominican entrepreneurs did not apply to participate?