Representatives from the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector convened at the AC Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on February 20 to actively engage in a consultation on updating the National Entrepreneurship Policy.
The policy, which was first developed in 2013 and later revised in 2018, was designed to address issues facing Jamaica’s MSME sector.
The revised policy was tabled in the Houses of Parliament as a ‘White Paper’ in 2018 and now in 2024, through this one-day consultation workshop, the intention is to facilitate the revision and crafting of the draft ‘Green Paper’ to ensure that the policy reflects and includes new and emerging trends within the sector.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the consultation, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, said that this national consultation is an important one in which MSMEs play a significant role.
“You make the policy and I will carry it to Cabinet; that is my role,” he said, adding that “I do not want a policy that we sit down in our office and create.
“We want a policy where you tell us that this is how we (entrepreneurs) want Jamaica to work and this is why it should work that way, because when we flesh it out among ourselves, we create a much better policy and a much better Jamaica,” Senator Hill informed the sector representatives at the hybrid event.
For the updated policy, he said, “Your participation will help in shaping a document that must be relevant, inclusive and responsive to the evolving needs and challenges faced by MSMEs in Jamaica.”
The policy, too, must include opportunities that exist within the sector, the Minister said.
The day’s activities featured a presentation by Policy Consultant, Dr. Kadawame K’nife, who provided an overview and implementation plan for the policy as well as technical working sessions for participants.
Another major aspect of the day was the Ministry’s MSME Business Pitch Competition, the objectives of which were to evaluate the various offerings presented by micro entrepreneurs; identify and make recommendations on micro businesses with the potential and ability to export; facilitate exchange of experiences, information and knowledge sharing on ways to enter export markets; and facilitate strategic discussions on enabling factors for success in the export markets.
