Business View Caribbean | July 2020

27 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN JULY 2020 T he OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency’s Technical Assistance and Coaching Programme launched on July 8, 2020 with the aim of strengthening the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of 14 selected young entrepreneurs from six countries of the Eastern Caribbean. In her remarks at the virtually held launch event, Caribbean Exports’ Services Specialist, Allyson Francis, underscored the importance of the private sector and youth owned businesses, in particular, for sustainable economic growth in the Caribbean. “Youth are the future,” noted Francis. Their businesses are a critical foundation for sustainable economic growth in the region and so we must invest in them and their businesses.” Funding for this technical assistance and coaching programme comes via the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, which the Agency is currently implementing. “Caribbean Export implemented a similar coaching programme for women owned businesses which was very successful, and so I encourage the participants to leverage the knowledge and expertise of the coaches and to build a network between one another,” Francis added. The programme pursues three main objectives, namely: • assisting entrepreneurs to clarify their vision and develop achievable goals that can be translated into tangible results; • assisting entrepreneurs to develop transformative business models and strategies that enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth; and • providing technical support to set entrepreneurs on a path towards export readiness. The beneficiaries of the OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency’s Technical Assistance and Coaching Programme were targeted through 14 ENTREPRENEURS TO START THE OECS-CARIBBEAN EXPORT COACHING PROGRAMME I encourage the participants to leverage the knowledge and expertise of the coaches and to build a network between one another OPENING L INES