The Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT) in conjunction with the European Union funded COSME Programme, successfully hosted a three day SME Start and Develop Your Business (SME-SDB) training program. Through this three day program, the Department and COSME were able to directly assist both established and future entrepreneurs. The trainings, which were coordinated and executed by Mr. Prakaash Rostam, COSME’s Key Expert SME & Private Sector Development, were led by trainer Ms. Sonia Hunte who provided a wealth of knowledge to the participants. Throughout the three days, participants learned about business models and planning, the value of marketing and conversions and the importance of financial management amongst other things. Moreover, the participants received presentations focused on business licensing requirements from the Head of the Business License Department Head Valya Pantophlet-Lake and were introduced to services provided by the Bureau of Intellectual Property through presentations by Vicentia Rosen-Sandiford and Aarti Jusia-Ramdial of the Bureau.
Over the three days, attendees praised the presenters and organizers for the useful and practical training material made available. The success of the workshops and satisfaction of the 35 participants are a testament to the close partnership between ETT and COSME, and the shared vision of expanding the capacities of entrepreneurs. At the end of the workshops, participants were presented with certificates to commemorate their commitments to entrepreneurship. In his closing remarks, TEATT Secretary General Miguel de Weever, encouraged participants to reach out to their fellow entrepreneurs for support while continuously develop their own business skills. Moreover, in describing the significance of institutional capacity building as an important ingredient for the sustainability of entrepreneurs, Mr. Rostam identified the combination of knowledge and skills in business development and management as keys for every entrepreneur.
While this workshop has ended, the Department is already planning its calendar for 2017 with intentions of providing more training opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Persons interested in joining the Department’s SME mailing list should email EVT.Inquiries@sintmaartengov.org to ensure that they stay abreast of future developments.