State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Sharon
Ffolkes-Abrahams, said the Government will continue to forge
partnerships with members of the Diaspora in an effort to increase
investments, particularly in the development of small enterprises.
“For our Ministry, we’re looking at getting support not only from our
local investors, but we’re also looking to the Jamaican Diaspora for
support. We want persons abroad to come forward and help out our young
people, who are taking the bold step of innovation in our country, and
…for more small and medium-sized businesses to get started, and grow and
flourish in this country,” she remarked.
She was addressing members of the business community at Wednesday’s
(February 16) launch of the new television series: ‘The Innovators’ at
the South Beach Café on Brompton Road in Kingston.
The series, which is a project of Future Services International
Limited, aims to provide real assistance and advice to young
entrepreneurs in their bid to establish and develop their own local
business. The show will be aired on Television Jamaica on Sundays at
5:30 p.m.
Mrs. Ffolkes-Abrahams said the concept of the television show and its
vision fits perfectly into the government’s national strategy for
business development, employment and growth for the small and medium
business sector.
“What we want to do is to see more young people and innovators coming
forward to do what we need to do to put this country on the map. We need
all the young people to think about the ideas that they have and the
government is here to support you in that endeavour and to see how we
can promote those ideas,” she stated.
She said a key focus of the government is to secure increased financing
for small businesses. “We’re looking at development banks for
financing, but we’re also looking at new ways to get credit. We’re
looking at ways to improve the credit system so that it’s not just there
for the bigger partners, and industries, but it’s there to support the
small businesses as well,” she stated.
In her remarks, Director of Marketing and Communications, Heart
Trust/NTA, one of the sponsors of ‘The |