Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, November 9th, 2016 – Invest Turks and Caicos today launched its “Empowering MSMEs” campaign with the goal of empowering small business owners to fulfil their entrepreneurial ambitions by ensuring financial and technical support through the Government’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) programme.
April 2016 saw the commencement of the Government’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) programme which is managed by Invest Turks and Caicos with support from the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) and Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade. Governed by the MSME Development Ordinance 2015, the programme makes provision for the Government to provide Concession Orders to qualifying locally-owned businesses operating in any of the identified priority business sectors. The Concession Orders permit the company or start-up to specific benefits, namely: Cash Grant, Customs Duty Reduction and/or Technical Assistance depending on the size of the business.
Invest Turks and Caicos is encouraging locally owned small businesses and start-ups to take advantage of the opportunity and apply for financial or technical assistance or customs duty reduction. “Local business owners can now feel a sense of empowerment with access to various assistance” says, Alexa Cooper-Grant, Vice President of Small Medium Enterprise Development. Additionally, there is complete guidance and support through Invest TCI and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED). Business owners who are interested in applying receive one on one consultation with representatives of the CED and Invest TCI who offer support with formulating a business plan and completing the application process.
Donna Gardiner, Owner of Caicos Tea Company and recent recipient of $10,000 cash grant, up to $10,000 in technical assistance and $10,000 customs duty exemption, stated, “Working with Invest TCI and the CED has been an awesome experience”. Ms. Gardiner, further stated, “I would encourage small business owners to take advantage of the opportunity and apply for the MSME assistance. The process has been very easy and it was a great help to get my business off the ground”.
As part of the Empowering MSMEs campaign and to coincide with Global Entrepreneurs Week, the Vice President of Small Medium Enterprise Development will visit the various islands to provide one on one consultation to small business owners interested in applying for MSME assistance. The dates are as follows:
November 14, Salt Cay – 9:00 am- 4:00 pm – Salt Cay Library
November 15, Grand Turk – 8:30 am -4:30 pm – CED Office, Windmills Plaza
November 16, South Caicos – 10:00 am – 4:30 pm – District Commissioner’s Office
November 17, Middle Caicos– 10:30 am- 1:30 pm – District Commissioner’s Office
November 17, North Caicos – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – District Commissioner’s Office
Persons interested in applying are advised to call our office at 338 4779 to make an appointment and to visit Invest TCI’s social media pages @investtci on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates.
For more information on the MSME Programme, visit our website at www.investturksandcaicos.tc/msme or call our office at 338 4779.
