The Commerce Department recently conducted a business tour to promote the MSME Loan-Grant Facility Project, aiming to enhance the operations of entrepreneurs.
Minister for Commerce Emma Hippolyte led the delegation on visits to various enterprises. The tour included visits to enterprises such as the St Lucia Distillers factory, Plas Kassav in Canaries, and more. The aim was to assess the impact of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) project on these facilities.
Additionally, the minister unveiled the Love Saint Lucia initiative, encouraging locals to buy locally made products and promoting digitalization among MSMEs to enhance their efficiency.
The minister said the St Lucia Distillers plant, which originated during the sugar cane era in the Roseau Valley is a project worthy of studying and documenting.
“They are made by our Saint Lucian persons with the right skills…and we need to recognize that we have some quality people around us in different fields,” Minister Hippolyte told reporters at a media briefing on Monday.
She says the intention is to help those people “so that they can upscale.” The delegation also visited a bakery in the neighbouring Anse La Raye community, where they produce bread from local foods such as plantain, and cassava “and (are) adding value to it.”
She noted that the MSME Loan-Grant Facility, as well as the Youth Economy Agency (YEA) targets such persons “to give them a new lease on life.”
The MSME Loan-Grant Facility gives approved MSMEs the capital injection needed to maximize their potential.
More than 175 Saint Lucian-owned small and medium-sized businesses have secured approval from the MSME Loan-Grant Facility to enhance their operations for improved profitability.
The minister said that government plays a critical role in this MSME project and the two-day tour allowed the department to make a thorough assessment of the facilities.
The delegation also visited business enterprises in Soufriere where they evaluated some catering services. In the latter part of the tour, the group visited Micoud and were intrigued with the manufacturing capabilities produced by Furniture City, where they have upgraded their skillset and the use of technology to enhance their business projection.
Additional visits were made to business sites in Mon Repos and Desruisseaux. The tour concluded at Saint Lu Woodworking where they observed a “new type of technology …with mass production linking products for the tourism industry.”
Furthermore, the department emphasized the importance of digitalization among MSMEs, and highlighted cases of businesses benefiting from the MSME Loan-Grant Facility for essential equipment purchases and payment system enhancements.
Minister Hippolyte asserted that the message is clear: “Let’s join forces to support our Saint Lucian manufacturers, both large and small.”