Small Business Bureau meets Indigenous communities

The Small Business Bureau (SBB) is on a mission to support the development and promotion of entrepreneurship in Amerindian communities. As such, during last week, a team from that bureau, led by Chief Executive Officer Shazim Ibrahim, met with residents of communities in the Upper Mazaruni areas of Region Seven to conduct needs assessments and business management training sessions.
Aiming to identify sustainable economic opportunities that drive business growth and foster long-term development, the Bureau’s team met with residents of Kamarang-Warawatta and Kako, and both groups expressed strong interest in aquaculture and apiculture, highlighting the potential to create jobs and generate income and self-sustainability. Facilitators have thus conducted interactive sessions that focused on business essentials, including the importance of having a proper business plan and managing inventory, along with marketing and financial risk management.

In total, 20 communities to date have been visited, and a large majority of those who participated in these interactive sessions have been women and youths, a demographic that would benefit substantially from this programme.
During the 2025 budget debates, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, declared that small businesses have a vital role to play in enhancing the livelihoods of citizens. He said Government is actively pursuing initiatives to establish business incubators, and comprehensive training and mentorship programmes are being undertaken to foster entrepreneurship.

This SBB initiative aligns with Government’s commitment to enhance community development through innovative and sustainable projects that lead to long-term economic growth.
Having previously conducted needs assessments at St Cuthbert’s Mission, the SBB last month sponsored 14 local entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative products and services at AgroFest 2025, the premier agricultural exhibition of Barbados, which will take place from February 21 to 23 at Queen’s Park in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Renowned for its vibrant showcasing of farming, local produce, and cultural heritage, AgroFest attracts agricultural businesses and visitors from across the region. For the clients of the Small Business Bureau, this presents a valuable opportunity to enter a new market and expand their reach.
According to the Small Business Act 2004, the role of the Small Business Bureau is to develop and implement programmes to foster small business development and growth, inclusive of access to finance; review and promote Government policies which address issues affecting small businesses;monitor and review access by ‘approved’ small businesses to 20 percent of Government procurement opportunities for goods and services; and be the source of information on the small business sector.