National Policy Framework for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

The National Policy Framework for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The purposes of this Policy are to facilitate entrepreneurship, income generation, employment, innovation and technology transfer, competitiveness and sustainable development of the Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises by ensuring an enabling environment for the potential and existing MSMEs. The four thematic pillars of this Policy are: (I) legislative, regulatory and business support framework; (II) improved access to finance; (III) market access, competitiveness and productivity; and (IV) development of entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and competencies through education and training.
Food security will be ensured through effective management of agri-business sector and thereby increased agricultural production.
The participation of youth, women and people with disabilities in the MSMEs sector will be promoted, particularly for the sustainable growth and development of the agriculture and agri-business sectors. Gender equality will be integrated into all economic sectors and commercial entrepreneurial start-ups. Moreover, equal opportunities will be provided to women-owned and men-owned enterprises in the MSMEs sector. The participation of farmers, the private sector and the government will be encouraged in the agri-business sector. Farmer organizations will be established and supported to coordinate production and marketing among smallholders. The development of partnerships and cooperatives will be encouraged to produce goods for the domestic and export markets. Agricultural extension services will be provided to smallholders through skills development, business development programmes, apprenticeship, and technology to improve their livelihoods. Access of smallholders to domestic and international markets will be facilitated through marketing and market information support. Moreover, job opportunities will be created in the tourism sector through training and capacity building.
The development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises sector will be ensured through increased export, internationalization of MSMEs, innovative MSMEs, increased employment generation, and increased efficiency and productivity among MSMEs. The number of globally competitive MSMEs will be increased in the country by enhancing the productive and export capacity of MSMEs and improving market access throughout the Caribbean Community. The access to investment funding and finance of the MSMEs will be improved. The diversification in the production of goods and services will be encouraged through innovation, creativity, and technology. Access to trade and technology information will be facilitated. The use of information and communication technologies and research and development studies will be increased. The short-term availability of statistical data and information on the local MSMEs sector will be supported. The entrepreneurial, management and technical skills will be improved through education and training programmes. Therefore, the introduction of entrepreneurship and innovation will be encouraged in the education system at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This Policy underlines the importance of the development in the key sectors to ensure economic growth in the short to medium term. Therefore, the development of MSMEs in the renewable energy, creative industry, agri-business and tourism sectors will be facilitated. Green revolution will be enhanced through energy efficiency enhancement programmes, diversification of renewable energy supply, environmental awareness-raising, and technology. The creative industry will be developed to produce competitive goods and services for the export markets. The intellectual property framework will be developed to protect the creative assets of the MSMEs. The indigenous brand of community-based businesses will be developed to increase value-added production in order to strengthen the tourism sector.
An independent public/private sector MSME policy monitoring and evaluation Committee or relevant entity will be established to monitor the implementation of the Policy; assess the implementation risks; monitor and evaluate the achievement of the goals and objectives of the Policy; and report to the Minister.