Twenty women-owned and led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (WMSMEs) from seven Caribbean Improvement Financial institution (CDB) borrowing member nations have been awarded a mixed USD 420,000 in grants aimed toward serving to them scale operations and attain new markets.
The funding, supplied by means of the Financial institution’s SheTrades Caribbean Regional Hub’s “Develop and Go” Grant Facility, can even help operational and technical upgrades to strengthen every enterprise.
The SheTrades Caribbean Hub — a partnership between the CDB and the Worldwide Commerce Centre (ITC) — is designed to speed up the expansion, export readiness, and international competitiveness of women-led companies throughout the area. This yr’s grant course of was extremely aggressive, attracting 106 functions. Winners have been chosen for his or her sturdy enterprise viability, innovation, and progress potential.
“In a fast-changing international commerce surroundings, entry to finance stays one of many largest hurdles for ladies entrepreneurs,” stated Lisa Harding, CDB’s Division Chief of the Non-public Sector Division. “The SheTrades Caribbean Develop and Go awards are greater than grants — they’re keys, unlocking export alternatives and giving women-led companies the instruments, confidence, and platform to thrive on the world stage.”
The recipients symbolize Barbados, Belize, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, with companies spanning agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, well being and wellness, artistic industries, ICT, and tourism. Utilizing the ITC SME Diagnostic Evaluation Methodology, every will obtain a tailor-made growth plan to information growth and increase their presence in regional and international worth chains.
“These grants are each a celebration of feat and a strategic funding within the entrepreneurial capability of Caribbean ladies,” stated Kayanne Anderson, Regional Coordinator of SheTrades Caribbean. “The companies chosen replicate the creativity, resilience, and innovation that drive our area ahead.”
Within the coming weeks, awardees will take part in a storytelling marketing campaign and mentoring initiatives to encourage different ladies entrepreneurs. Following this pilot section, the CDB will assess the programme’s affect to tell future efforts to strengthen the worldwide competitiveness of women-led companies within the Caribbean.
