The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is inviting Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in St. Catherine to register for the Digital Jamaica Project training at the upcoming MSME Business Roadshow (MBR), set for January 16, at the Twickenham Park Church of the Open Bible in Spanish Town.

As the agency under the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce with responsibility for MSME development, the JBDC will play a significant role in the MSME Business Roadshow.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the JBDC, Harold Davis says, “One of the things that we want to push at this roadshow is to come on board for the Digital Jamaica training. This is the training that will carry you to internationalisation, this is the training that will carry you to a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness, and certainly viability for your business.”

The Roadshow aims to scale up and support ongoing efforts by the Ministry, its agencies and partners to enhance the expansion of the private sector generally and facilitate the growth and development of the MSME sector by bringing opportunities, services and knowledge sharing to MSMEs at the local level.

Davis continued, “JBDC will [also] be highlighting a ‘Tech Corner’ that will present a number of businesses that provide solutions for MSMEs from AI to HR to Financial Solutions all founded on digital solutions.” Confirmed exhibitors include: Appfinity Technologies, AdTelligent, Securys, ResolveIT, ThinkNChange, CompConn, Joni-Gaye Cawley & Associates, among others.

The training component under the €9.5 EU-funded Digital Jamaica Project, focuses on key areas such as digitisation, digitalisation, and digital transformation. The Project is designed to support Jamaica’s digital transformation by empowering MSMEs with the tools and skills needed to digitise their businesses.

Areas to be covered under digitisation include assessing business needs, choosing the right digital tools, implementation, and training employees. Digitalisation training covers areas such as financial management, customer relationship management, data analytics, and privacy. The most advanced stage of the training is digital transformation which explores barriers to adoption and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Through this project, a total of 2700 beneficiaries receive certificates of completion during the years 2024-2026.

Additionally, up to 500 MSMEs will receive assistance to digitally transform at least one internal business process by the end of 2026. So far, over a hundred MSMEs have been trained in Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine.

Training sessions will be conducted in all parishes.

Applicants will be assessed and placed in the relevant training segment based on the business’ level of digital technology adoption. Training is at no cost to beneficiaries.

Representatives from the JBDC will be available at the Roadshow to assist with general business development queries, as well as registration for training.