ACS Concludes Virtual Training Programme for Small Business Development Centres (SBDCs) and Business Support Organisations (BSOs)

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – February 13, 2025 – The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) has successfully concluded its virtual training programme titled "Strengthening Small Business Development Centres (SBDCs) and Establishing a Regional SBDC Network to Foster Internationalisation and Regional Integration." Launched on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, this three-week initiative forms part of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) International Trade and Development Project, implemented with support from the Inter-American Development Bank.

The training aimed to enhance the growth and internationalisation of MSMEs in Barbados, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Trinidad & Tobago. With a special focus on community-based tourism, agribusiness, and creative industries – key sectors for sustainable development in the region – the sessions provided directors and advisors of SBDCs and business support organisations with tools to improve their efficiency, service range, and overall quality of support to entrepreneurs.

The programme was structured around a Competitiveness Toolkit developed by the consulting firms Target Euro Srl and DevSolutions Consulting LLC. Over the course of six sessions, expert facilitators guided participants through key topics such as the SBDC life cycle, staff performance evaluation, financial planning, and the certification of advisory staff. This comprehensive approach ensures that SBDCs are equipped to provide high-quality support to MSMEs.

A primary goal of the training was to strengthen the competencies of advisory staff in measuring the impact of the services offered by SBDCs. Furthermore, the ACS sought to develop a proposal for a Regional SBDC Network, fostering deeper collaboration and knowledge-sharing among business development organisations across the beneficiary countries.

The training sessions facilitated meaningful discussions and provided clear guidance on using the Competitiveness Toolkit. Participants actively engaged in working groups and discussions.

Through initiatives such as this, the ACS continues to support the sustainable development and competitiveness of MSMEs in the region by providing practical resources to the people of the Greater Caribbean, reinforcing its commitment to regional integration.