Business View Caribbean | Volume 8, Issue 12

4 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12 We listened and responded swiftly to MSMEs during the pandemic by providing a significant boost to drive growth and innovation in major and emerging sectors Technical Assistance Programme Grant Facility was deployed to assist companies in recovering from the COVID pandemic and therefore I look forward to seeing the impact it has had,” declared EU Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska. Out of the 61 grants already awarded, businesses from all CARIFORUM member states have benefited. Manufacturing and agriculture and agro-processing emerged as the largest sectors, accounting for 42% of the total grants, followed by professional services (15%). Younger business owners aged between 18 and 35 accounted for at least 16% of the grantees. Among businesses awarded, 26% were headed by women. “For many regional entrepreneurs, navigating such an unprecedented pandemic, and feeling the weight of responsibility – not just for the survival of their enterprises but for their livelihoods, health and wellbeing of staff, customers, and suppliers has required a Herculean effort,” emphasised CDB’s Director, Projects Department, Daniel Best. He added: “CDB is therefore extremely pleased to have assisted in improving the resilience of these 61 MSMEs by providing much needed financing to help them realise improved production efficiencies, product quality, management of financial resources, and to obtain enhanced business support services, all of which are critical to enhance their competitiveness.” The TAP programme will provide a suite of online training to build the capacity of MSMEs in the Caribbean. Firms can learn more about the programme and register their interest in participating here: Technical Assistance Programme About Caribbean Export Caribbean Export is the regional trade and investment promotion agency focused on accelerating the economic transformation of the Caribbean. We work closely with businesses to increase exports, attract investment, and contribute towards the creation of jobs to build a resilient Caribbean. We are currently executing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).