Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Launches Week of Activities for Global Entrepreneurship Week

Kingston, Jamaica – November 16, 2024 – The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), in collaboration with its agencies, will host a series of events to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), November 17-22. The week’s activities aim to drive innovation, support business growth, and provide essential resources for entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Jamaica.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week offers a unique opportunity to showcase the resilience, creativity, and innovation of Jamaican entrepreneurs,” stated Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

“By equipping our MSMEs with the tools and resources they need to succeed, we are building stronger businesses that are able to compete regionally and internationally and are contributing to Jamaica’s economic growth and job creation.”

GEW will include the following activities:

• Church Service – The week will begin with a church service on Sunday, November 17, at the Church of the Ascension to bring together business owners, senior executives and other stakeholders, marking a reflective start to the week.
• Ministerial Breakfast and Fireside Chat in Honour of International Men’s Day – On Tuesday, November 19, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce will hold a Ministerial Breakfast and Fireside Chat with selected male-led businesses. This event celebrates International Men’s Day and aims to spotlight the contributions of male entrepreneurs, offering them an opportunity to share insights, discuss challenges, and inspire others.
• Export Max Programme Workshop – On November 19, The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) will conduct a workshop for Cohort IV participants of the Export Max Programme, themed “Entrepreneurs Leveraging Digital Transformation for Global Competitiveness in Export.” Entrepreneurs from sectors including food and beverage, cosmetics, technology, and film will learn how to strengthen their export readiness through digital tools.
• MSME Digital Transformation Training – The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) will hold a two-day digital transformation training event from November 20-21, at the Incubator and Resource Centre. This training will provide MSMEs with the essential skills to leverage digital technologies for business efficiency and expansion.
• Webinars on Intellectual Property Protection – The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) will host two informative webinars targeting MSMEs interested in safeguarding their innovations. On November 20, JIPO will cover topics on patents, utility models, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), offering practical tips for international protection. The second event on November 22 will focus on creating effective specification documents for patent and utility model applications.
• Trade Board Information Sessions – The Trade Board Limited (TBL) will host a webinar on utilizing the EXPORTJamaica platform, a digital marketing intelligence portal, on November 21 and a second webinar will be held on November 22 on the benefits of Jamaica’s nine Trade Agreements. These sessions will highlight opportunities for MSMEs to expand into international markets and benefit from trade agreements.
• Entrepreneur’s Day – Business One-Stop Shopping – The Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) will host Entrepreneur’s Day on November 21 at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Office in Kingston, offering a comprehensive, one-stop resource for MSMEs to access business services.
• Workshop on Business Acceleration for MSMEs in SEZs – The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) will hold a workshop titled “Transforming MSMEs through Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Growth” on November 21. This session will provide entrepreneurs with insights into expanding their businesses through SEZs.

According to Latoya Richards Franklin, Chief Technical Director at MIIC, the suite of activities is a comprehensive undertaking by the Ministry, its agencies and departments.

“This year’s series of activities reflects our commitment to creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports innovation and growth. By collaborating with our agencies, we aim to empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, providing them with the business resources, markets and opportunities to succeed locally and internationally,” stated Mrs. Richards Franklin.

MIIC encourages all MSMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in these events to gain valuable insights, network with peers, and access resources to enable them to increase their productivity and profitability and global competitiveness. For more information on event details and participation, visit the Ministry’s social media platforms.

-30-