MSME Business Roadshows for 2025 Kick Off on January 16

The Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Business Roadshows for 2025 kick off on Thursday, January 16, at the Twickenham Park Church of the Open Bible in St. Catherine, commencing 9:00 a.m.

Thursday’s staging is the first of three already slated for the year by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, which spearheads the initiative.

Additionally, grant funding for the event’s Micro and Small Pitch Competition has increased from $3.6 million to $4.8 million.

This was announced by Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, during Wednesday’s (January 15) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

The second roadshow will be hosted at Juici Patties headquarters in Clarendon Park on February 20, with the third set for March 6 at St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz.

The MSME Business Roadshow is a national initiative of the Ministry, designed to empower Jamaica’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

It offers opportunities for networking, exploring financing options and connecting with key agencies and partners.

Senator Hill, who highlighted the initiative’s success, thus far, pointed out that “the roadshows were amazing”, adding that, “we had four last year, [and] we spent over $56 million on those”.

He encourages Jamaicans to enter the pitch competition for the opportunity to win up to $400,000 in grants.

Shortlisted applicants will be allotted five minutes to explain and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience for a chance to cop the cash prize.

Entries will be assessed on the following criteria: viability of business – value proposition, size market; scalability – potential locally, regionally and internationally; export readiness – processes and plans in place for export; market strategy; and knowledge of competitors.

Source: JIS