The BSE is actively working to educate and prepare SMEs for listing through collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Business (MEB), the Small Business Association (SBA), and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). This initiative aims to provide growth-oriented businesses with access to capital, helping them expand their operations and contribute to economic development. The project is structured in three phases: an initial awareness campaign, a diagnostic and capacitybuilding stage, and a final phase focused on raising capital and listing. The goal is to bring at least 20 SMEs to market and strengthen Barbados’ economic landscape by diversifying the exchange’s offerings. On a broader scale, the BSE is championing efforts to integrate the Caribbean’s capital markets. efforts have garnered incredible acknowledgement, with the exchange securing designation as a recognized stock exchange by HMRC in the United Kingdom. “What that means is that the securities listed on our exchange are treated as if they were listed in the UK and receive the same benefits,” Yarde explains, clarifying that this status provides tax advantages for companies listed on the BSE, making it an attractive option for foreign investors. EXPANDING MARKET REACH AND FUTURE GROWTH INITIATIVES One of the most significant initiatives currently underway at BSE is its effort to attract small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to list on the Innovation and Growth Market (IGM) of the BSE. 34 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03
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