DEXIA awarded EU grant contract

DEXIA's Main office & warehouse, Bayfront, Roseau

The Dominica Export Import Agency has been awarded an EU Grant of one (1) million euros to enhance the competitiveness of private sector entities in Dominica through an innovative programme of business support services.

This private sector development programme which will be administered through a Business Gateway mechanism will be managed by DEXIA in collaboration with WHITCO Development Institute, the Dominica Bureau of Standards and the Dominica Hucksters Association as partners.

The EU Grant is being financed under the Special Framework of Assistance (SFA) 2004 and will be for a duration of 36 months.

The main objective of the programme is to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector operators in the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors to respond to market opportunities locally, regionally and internationally.

The Business Gateway will provide support to meet this objective by screening prospective participants based on diagnostic audits and needs assessments of the business environment in Dominica.

This programme will assist new business start-ups as well as existing Micro, Small and Medium sized (MSMEs) enterprises and will provide improved access to start-up enterprises, business planning, information on trade opportunities and other expert support. Priority areas for assistance include: product development and management, productivity enhancement, business mentoring, market access and other related issues to enhance competitiveness, penetrate markets and increased revenues.

The Business Gateway will also provide targeted training to consultants and business support organizations in order to upgrade the pool of local business and facilitators.

There will be three main components of the programme:

• Productivity and Competitiveness Enhancement Programme

• Market Access Programme

• Training of Service Providers and Entrepreneurs

The Business Gateway is housed at DEXIA’s offices and the programme is expected to promote employment , income generation and increased export earnings.