The Tribune

The Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) teamed with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) to host a global export workshop for entrepreneurs.

The three-day workshop, titled Services Go Global, was conducted by Dr Nsombi Jaja, a CEDA consultant, at the Bahamian entity’s offices. Eight entrepreneurs participated in the workshop, and learnt about trade in services, conducting market research, developing a marketing strategy and entering the global market.

Dr Jaja said there were two main advantages to Bahamian entrepreneurs selling their products into international markets.

“There are several benefits for The Bahamas when entrepreneurs market and sell their products outside of the country,” she explained. “Two main ones are increasing business to the providers, and another is visibility of unique Bahamian products and services.”

She added that the Bahamian cultural and creative industries have endless possibilities globally, with the European Union (EU) in particular focusing on that sector.

Dr Jaja said: “The culture and creative industries are a big focus with the European Union (EU), who we have a partnership agreement with. These industries include many young persons and we want to get them engaged and exploring cultural and creative services meaningfully. These industries include animation, performing arts, fine arts, food and culinary tourism. There are endless opportunities there.”

CEDA is responsible for the European Union Development Fund (EUDF). This seeks to integrate Caribbean countries into the world economy and enhance regional economic growth, helping to ease poverty. As custodians of the EUDF, CEDA is trying to prepare the services industry to ready their export plans and produce better, more consistent goods and services.

Participants described the workshop as a success. Cherelle Cartwright, owner of Mama Sassy’s Gourmet Foods, said: “I have not been that inspired in a long time. Dr Jaja’s export training class is priceless. Thank you to the SBDC for allowing us the experience to learn from Dr Jaja, as many of us are not at the stage in our business to afford what this course would cost had we had to pay for it ourselves.”

Another attendee, Jannifer Thurston, owner of A Solutions Agency, said: “Thank you to Dr Jaja for being such an inspiration and helping to bring clarity to my business planning process. Her ability to make the subject material relatable and enjoyable is truly a gift from the Father above. I’m looking forward to applying all that I have learned. Thank you SBDC. Job well done.”

The SBDC is the product of a tripartite arrangement between the government, through the Ministry of Finance, University of The Bahamas (UB) and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC). The centre works to guide the development, funding, growth and evolution of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in The Bahamas.