OAS and EU Reaffirm Support for Jamaica’s MSMEs

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Jamaica’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through their partnership with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) in developing an online learning platform.

The platform, branded ‘Biz Wiz’, was officially launched on March 5 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

It forms part of the JBDC’s broader initiative, ‘Accelerating MSME Growth Through Innovation and Technology’, which is designed to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of MSMEs.

Resident Representative of the OAS, Jeanelle van GlaanenWeygel, explained that the initiative embodies the organisation’s evolving approach to development cooperation – one that places priority on collaboration, shared expertise, and national leadership.

“Development cooperation in the Americas has been evolving as we’ve moved towards a model of partnership defined by shared technical expertise and a focus on national priorities. OAS Member States are increasingly taking the lead, utilising South-South and triangular cooperation to drive economic growth and social progress,” she said.

Ms. van GlaanenWeygel noted that the OAS Development Cooperation Fund (DCF) continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening institutions and advancing human capacity development.

“The Organization of American States is proud to be at the heart of this evolution through its Development Cooperation Fund. As our primary instrument for non-reimbursable financing, the DCF provides the seed funding necessary to strengthen institutions and build human capacity across our region,” she added.

Ms. van GlaanenWeygel explained that Jamaica received a US$100,000 grant under the 2021-2024 DCF project cycle, which focused on fostering inclusive resilience to support effective recovery.

“This regional effort benefited over 21,000 individuals and more than 1,000 MSMEs. Jamaica’s contribution was exemplary through… the project – ‘Accelerating MSMEs Growth Through Innovation and Technology’. Through access to innovation and technology, the JBDC set out to equip 100 local businesses with improved access to business development training, technical assistance to strengthen start-ups, as well as the digital tools required to boost productivity,” she said.

The OAS Representative highlighted that the Biz Wiz platform marks a significant milestone in expanding entrepreneurial education across Jamaica.

“The online learning platform… is the result of that vision. The platform represents a transition towards sustainable on-demand technical training. It ensures that Jamaican start-ups and small businesses have the resources they need to thrive in a digital-first economy,” she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the European Union (EU) Delegation to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, Koenraad Burie, underscored the EU’s commitment to advancing digital capabilities among Jamaican businesses.

“The EU is proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, JBDC, and the OAS, to foster digital literacy. MSMEs are the powerhouse of any sustainable economy, and the economy cannot just rely on five big companies,” he said.

Mr. Burie emphasised that digital transformation remains a central pillar of the European Union’s development partnership with Jamaica.

“This is one of the many deliverables that we are working with Jamaica on, and we’re very proud to be here,” he expressed.

Mr. Burie added that initiatives such as Biz Wiz help to strengthen Jamaica’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, foster inclusive economic growth, and underscore the importance of cherishing and supporting MSMEs.

The Biz Wiz platform offers structured online training across seven disciplines, equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to build competitive, digitally enabled businesses.

Source: JIS