A number of stakeholders in the entrepreneurship ecosystem got behind the EU-LAC Accelerator programme, promoting the initiative as a solution to increase digital adoption among local businesses.

Christopher Brown, programme manager for Boosting Innovation, Growth, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems at the Development Bank of Jamaica, has expressed optimism about the accelerator programme’s utility. He therefore cited its extensive array of services aimed at facilitating partnerships, after a workshop held at the The Jamaica Pegasus

“I have actually never heard of an accelerator that provides such a comprehensive range of services to entrepreneurs, aiding in their success, helping build business cases, raising financing and providing mentorship and guidance. I believe this comprehensive approach will contribute to the success of corporate venturing innovation activities,” he stated.

Also speaking at the workshop, Sancia Bennett Templer, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, underscored the significance of the programme for the Caribbean and the entire region.

“This launch marks a significant milestone not only for the Caribbean but for the entire region as we continue to step boldly into the future of digital innovation in entrepreneurship,” she said.

She added, “The digital accelerator is more than an initiative; it is a commitment to transform our economic landscape, foster sustainable development and enhance our global competitiveness. By marrying large corporations and their problems with innovative problem-solving skills of our up-and-coming technology experts, this project holds the potential to usher in an era where simple relationships can be unearthed and nurtured between big businesses and MSMEs. ”

For his part, Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, head of cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas highlighted the transformative power of the digital landscape in shaping and connecting economies and societies worldwide.

“In this era of rapid technological advancement, forging alliances and fostering collaboration is not just a product, but absolutely imperative. It is in this spirit that the EU LAC Digital Alliance emerged as a means of cooperation and innovation between the European Union and Latin America and Caribbean nations,” he said.

He continued, “This alliance provides a forum for regular bi-regional dialogue and cooperation on digital matters. It also creates a strategic framework to promote a human-centric digital transformation based on the idea that digitalisation must first and foremost benefit people and also ensure encouraged investments for the socio-economic prosperity of the nations.”

The EU-LAC Digital Alliance focuses on four key areas: policy dialogue, boosting connectivity, Earth observation and satellite navigation services, and the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator, which promotes partnerships between businesses from the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Together, these efforts underscore a collective commitment to advancing prosperity and progress in the region.