2009-05-28

JBDC Helps Prepare Small Businesses to Secure Contracts

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) has embarked on an islandwide drive to help small business operators position themselves to secure contracts.

As part of the Government's stimulus package, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced in December that the Government would facilitate small business access to at least 15 per cent of Government contracts.

The JBDC has taken a lead role in preparing small business operators to access the provision, by holding four regional workshops. The first of the two-day workshops (May 27-28) was held at the Garmex HEART Academy in Kingston.

Explaining the rationale for having the workshops, Business Development Officer at JBDC, Patrice Smith, noted that the JBDC exists for business development purposes, but a lot of contractors did not know that this service was also available.

"So we are bringing the workshops to the population, to let them know how it is that they can achieve the benefits," she explained.

Approximately 30 trainees, mostly from the construction industry, were taught how to prepare an effective business proposal, the bidding process and how to negotiate a contract.

Professionals from the National Contracts Commission, the Companies Office of Jamaica and the Tax Administration Services Department also made presentations.

"For doing business within Jamaica, you need to be tax compliant, you need to have a TCC (Tax Compliance Certificate), you need to be a registered business," Ms. Smith said.

The next workshop is scheduled for June 2-3, at the St Ann's Bay Baptist Church.

The others will be held on June 9-10 at Ridgemont United Church Hall, Mandeville; and on June 16-17, at the Savanna-la-Mar United Church Hall, Westmoreland.