Dominica training leaves almost 150 ‘better equipped for business’

Training finished this week for 140 budding business owners who were looking to boost their abilities.

At a closing ceremony, held by the Ministry of Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development, participants were told that enterprise in Dominica is on the rise.

“The goal of the government of Dominica is for you to have successful business, said Roselyn Paul, minister for small business development.

“We are on a mission to spread the culture of enterprise, we are on a mission to ensure that enterprise in Dominica does not only continue to be there but to rise at the very next level.

“We want to ensure that enterprise continues to create employment for you.”

‘Support to continue’

The training, organised by the Ministry of Small Business Development, are designed to supply business owners, both current and potential, with formal guidance and financial support.

The training covered business concepts including swat analysis, marketing and promotion, business budgeting and recording.

Since the beginning of the training series in April, around 1,000 entrepreneurs have completed the workshops.

Ian Douglas, MP for the Portsmouth constituency, said: “Each one of you, I want to assure you will be given support, it might not come tomorrow but I can tell you, you will be given support.

“We have placed half a $1 million at the council right now, in the mayor’s hand to give to you to develop and expand and grow your business and if that is not enough I can ensure you that fund will be replenished until every single one of you inside here receive the assistance you need to grow your business.”

In the 2016/2017 budget, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit – who is also the minister for finance – approved 1% of the capital budget for small businesses development, including a $1m loan facility specifically for musicians.

And according to the government, further assistance for small business has also made been made available through the Ministry of Tourism and Agriculture.