Commercial banking arm of the GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) First Global Bank (FGB) will host an online seminar for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to discuss investment opportunities.

The webinar slated for September 19, 2024, will be delivered in partnership with the University of Commonwealth Caribbean’s Business and Development Consulting Institute (UCC-BDCI). FGB and UCC-BDCI both aim to provide MSMEs with practical insights into investment opportunities and business growth strategies to overcome current economic challenges.

For FGB, the event is aligned with its strategic goal of helping MSMEs build relationships and improve their access to funding.

Kelli-Ann James, assistant vice-president, personal and business banking at First Global Bank highlighted the difficulties MSMEs face in accessing funding for business needs.

“MSMEs are the engines that power economic growth. But they face significant challenges such as recovering from the post-COVID-19 economy and dealing with global disruptions [in] logistics,” she said.

“Funding should not be one of those obstacles. We are seeking to promote financial literacy as well as business banking tips to make strong connections that will get our MSMEs closer to the lenders so that they can fuel their next big milestone in business, whether its upskilling, paying down on debt, expanding or digitalising for cost efficiency.”

Data from the Jamaica Business Development Corporation show that just over 30 per cent of local MSMEs are currently using digital technologies to drive business growth. According to James, this event will educate MSMEs on available opportunities to leverage these tools for expansion.

“We live in an era where understanding technology and finance accelerates your business success, particularly for artisans and services providers. Meeting your prospective clients in a faster, more convenient way will allow you to make more money. First Global Bank would like to ensure that MSMEs have the right knowledge to meet the growing demands,” said James.

In March 2019, FGB launched their SME Business Hub with the aim of supporting MSMEs in better managing their businesses through a network of solutions. 

Businesses interested in attending the webinar can register at bit.ly/bizboostwebinarja First Global Bank customers can contact their Business Banking Executives for further details.