The OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency’s Technical Assistance and Coaching Programme launched on July 8, 2020 with the aim of strengthening the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of 14 selected young entrepreneurs from six countries of the Eastern Caribbean.

In her remarks at the virtually held launch event Caribbean Exports’ Services Specialist – Allyson Francis, underscored the importance of the private sector and youth owned businesses, in particular, for sustainable economic growth in the Caribbean.

“Youth are the future.  Their businesses are a critical foundation for sustainable economic growth in the region and so we must invest in them and their businesses.” 

Funding for this technical assistance and coaching programme comes via the 11^th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, which the Agency is currently implementing.

“Caribbean Export implemented a similar coaching programme for women owned businesses which was very successful, and so I encourage the participants to leverage the knowledge and expertise of the coaches and to build a network between one another” she continued.

The programme pursues three main objectives, namely: 

• assisting entrepreneurs to clarify their vision and develop achievable goals that can be translated into tangible results; 
• assisting entrepreneurs to develop transformative business models and strategies that enhance productivity, competitiveness and growth; and
• providing technical support to set entrepreneurs on a path towards export readiness.

The beneficiaries of the OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency’s Technical Assistance and Coaching Programme were targeted through national Business Service Organisations and the “OECS 30 under 30” programme.  From 21 applications, 14 companies have been selected to participate in the three-month coaching programme from both the services and goods sectors.  The group of young entrepreneurs will benefit from a highly experienced team of coaches in multiple areas such as business plan development, financial analysis, operations management, sales, marketing and branding, human resource management, proposal development, product development and quality assurance, legal and regulatory environment, ethical and sustainable business trends, information and communication technologies and e-commerce, and creative industries among others.  

The coaching programme also includes the completion of a comprehensive analysis of each beneficiary companies and the development of individual strategies which will address their specific issues. 

In closing, OECS and Caribbean Export reaffirmed the intention to continue to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Eastern Caribbean through complementary projects which will be launched in the future.

Participating companies include:

Company	Entrepreneur’s name	Country	Sector
Shop D Caribbean	Darrion Louis	Saint Lucia	Information Communication Technology (ICT)
LinkUp	Kenna Questelles George	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Information Communication Technology (ICT)
The Two Aces	Ackim Sidonie	Saint Lucia	Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Mec Designs	Mauisa Carbon	Antigua and Barbuda	Manufacturing
T & A Household Decor	Amy Antoine	Saint Lucia	Manufacturing
Adroit	Tonnie Pierre	Grenada	Agribusiness
Cronneit’s Forest Bows	Denny Cronneit	Grenada	Manufacturing
Flirt Cocktails	Hyacinth Richardson	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Agribusiness & Manufacturing
Mangal Trading Incorporation	Nila Mangal	Saint Lucia	Agribusiness
Akata Farms	Bevon Chadel Charles	Grenada	Agribusiness
My Crown Of Curls	Ranique John	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Agribusiness & Manufacturing
Emerald Solar and Wind Ltd	Nicholas Sander	Montserrat	Renewable Energy
Caribi Dreams	Mr. Maurice  John	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Renewable Energy
POISE SKN	Desi Brown	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Creative Industries