The registration of a trading company for hucksters in St. Martin, a West Coast Citrus Processors Association and direct technical assistance for 51 firms are some of the major achievements of the European Funded Business Gateway program, according to officials.
At a press conference this morning to mark the launch of the organization’s new website, Programme Manager Joseph Isaac said that the program has also undertaken development and training programmes.
“We have sought to develop business plans for the National Center of Testing Excellence, also business plans for the operation and management of the fresh produce pack houses, one located in Portsmouth and the other located in Roseau.
Meanwhile, Isaac disclosed that work is underway on a trading company that will work on behalf of hucksters in St. Martin. The company will address challenges faced by Dominica hucksters there.
“In addition we have started work… in regards to business plan, commissioning of equipment for the West Coast Citrus Processors Association and we have also sought to do development and training work with our consultants,” Isaac added.
Isaac also mentioned additional initiatives including training in business plan development, assessment tool usage and budgeting and negotiation conducted by Whitco, Inc.
The Dominica Bureau of Standards also conducted sessions on labeling and packaging, standard sanitation and operating procedures (SSPOP).
The program manager further disclosed that the installation and commissioning of a greenhouse for a client was another project undertaken under the Business Gateway program.
Meanwhile, the Business Gateway is also developing websites for 11 of its client firms and has funded a market visit to various Caribbean countries to witness the operations of solar energy facilities.
@ disappointed
I tend to disagree with you. If you take a look at websites of government agencies like NAO for example you will realize that certain restrictions exist when it comes to flashy appeal and the sorts. I believe that they tried to keep the design as close as possible to their logo. This is not a yahoo or facebook. I don’t think that statistics is what I would really want as a businessman, yes it would be helpful to some extent but I would want marketing and promotion etc. especially when they start talking technical assistance which really means they can’t buy material and tools for anyone or provide working capital. As I took a look at the businesses listed their I realized that I do not know many of them which means that good things are happening on the ground.
As a businessman myself I wish I had the support as I see some of these companies getting some much needed assistance. Working capital is our biggest problem in Dominica and I see people getting hings like bar codes, market visits, all kinds of training etc. which on my own I would not be able to afford.
Generally I believe they are accomplishing what they set out to do….I find they really squeezing blood out of water here with a large number of 51 clients with €1 million euro. Wow. That’s a lot of companies to help in that short space of time. I think it’s real ambitious. More money should be pumped into this.
My 2cents
I have looked at the site and i have some issues with it. I fail to correlate the information of the interventions to that of the raw information to any use past bragging rights for the business gateway. If you are giving me a functional site, it should allow me to extract statistical data and make comparative analysis then it makes sense. I agree with the previous contributor, a press release could have done the same job. Since the lacks function the time must have been spent recalling an exaggerated list of interventions given to the same clients to create the illusion of a successful programme. Do not get me wrong. I am not negative, the programme concept is a great one, ..The site is not aesthetically pleasing; the layout is poor and unprofessional. It does not have a clean crisp, sharp look associated with a corporate site. I am not blaming the designers, some persons who commit funds have no idea the cost of programming and graphic work to put together a good site and just come up with arbitrary figures. Then they try to use the procurement process to squeeze blood out of service providers to say them made a savings and have the funds go back to the EU. When will we learn Dominica, when will we learn?
Steve
Why don’t you visit the website and see? tbgdominica.dm Further, is that all you do on a website; order and pay – sounds like amazon.com to me. Educate yourself less you start spewing *&^%. Guess you are one of those whose portfolio includes, CRITICISM OF ALL AND SUNDRY.
That’s a lot in a short space of time. I wish the responsible bodies would see it fit to extend or adopt such a project when the EU funding is finished. For years Hucksters in SMX have been threatened by the SMX authorities to the point where even clearing of their goods would be plenty work. I’m happy to see development.
Whats the significance of having a press conference to launching a website? Whats the importance of the website? will customers and clients be able to order on line, make payments etc? …