The Tribune

The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is again partnering with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) to provide business management training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs )on Grand Bahama.

Also lending their support are the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and the Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

Making the announcement on the ProNet Business Management Training Series which is set to begin at the end of the month, GBPA president Ian Rolle said: “The ProNet Series, as offered by CEDA, is part of an ongoing mandate to develop the SME business sector in CARIFORUM countries, thereby preparing them to meet the demands of a highly competitive global business environment.”

Managers and business owners of SMEs, which are GBPA licencees and have been in business for at least a year, were encouraged to take advantage of the complimentary, specialised training that is being held in Grand Bahama for the very first time.

The programme will be presented in three stages – Business Strategy, March 25-26; Cost and Financial Management, April 29-30; and Export Marketing, May 27-29.

Charles Pratt, the GBPA’s commercial manager, encouraged interested persons to submit their applications early to the Port’s Enterprising Centre, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce or BAIC.

Participants will receive an internationally-recognised certificate upon completion of all three modules.

“GBPA has committed to sponsoring qualifying businesses to participate in the initial management training,” added Mr Rolle.

“We believe that this initiative can translate into significant benefits for the island’s economy, not only by way of additional employment opportunities and job creation, but also by means of local businesses tapping into new, and in some cases foreign, markets for export of Bahamian manufactured products.”