Barbados Business Collaboration: Empowering MSMEs for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Success

While agencies have their individual mandates and programmatic agenda, there is no one coordinating mechanism to ensure that the MSME sector can have a structured and systematic approach to access these national efforts. This was the intention of the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) that now appears to be in abeyance. The SBDC initiative portends to bring together the key agencies careering to micro and small firms, and, through a small secretariat, coordinate the major activities to provide the sector with a seamless platform to access products and services. It is true that each agency in the network will have its own mandate, and due to its specialisation will cater uniquely to a segment of the market. However, the SBDC was intended to transcend this reality and harmonise the work done for the sector so as to collect data seamlessly, coordinate research, and focus on those macro issues otherwise not contemplated at the agency level. Whither the

SBDC?

The Broad Street Mall demonstrates why that coordinating mechanism is important and could easily be replicated through a SBDC framework to maximise on all major events year-round. It is unclear why there is no national agenda at small business development despite the myriad of research and position papers prepared over time that show the benefits to be derived from national coordination. There are enough success models regionally and internationally that can be adapted. Small business development transcends partisanism and requires a commitment, particularly by policymakers, to employ proven strategies and formulas for the sustainable growth of the sector.

Suffice it to say that the Broad Street Mall initiative, and a few similar projects before, can be a model for small firms to build capacity, learn marketing strategies and expand in the domestic market. Research shows that a small percentage of those participating in these initiatives will scale to the next level. The percentage of firms that are able to internationalise is generally small in any population, but if investments are made to attract a target number of businesses each year, sustainable growth can be realised over a period of time. For sure, the domestic consumer can be encouraged to support local small businesses and reduce the need for imports through an import substitution strategy. Not only should agriculture be developed to the point of reducing the food import bill, but sourcing other commodities from local suppliers would go a long way towards saving foreign exchange.

Kudos, therefore, to all businesses that participated during the five Saturdays in June in the Broad Street Mall project. Barbados and visitors alike got the opportunity to sample and purchase products from the firms in the food and beverage, wine and spirits, beauty, health and wellness, and the creative and cultural sectors.

The SBA is particularly proud of its members who were given the opportunity to showcase during the period. Hats off to the following tenacious and inspiring businesses:

• Fields and Hills

• Blasted Cocktails

• The Golden Spoon

• J Y S Leather Craft

• Crafted by Wood

• Aidzariella Delights

• Curae Health Inc.

• Lizchi Exquisite Creations

• Canewood Rum

• Well Living Health and Beauty

• EsNick Craft

• Kernel Army Gourmet Popcorn

• Azure Gourmet Skincare

• Chantalle Designs

• O’s Inc.

• Mally’s Cocktails

• Katspraddle Sweet Potato Vodka

• Happy Treats

The Small Business Association of Barbados (www.sba.bb) is the non-profit representative body for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).