Above: IFC Headquarters

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The International Finance Corporation, a division of the World Bank, and Barbados National Bank have launched the Caribbean SME Toolkit in Barbados today, bringing the country an online guide for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

The toolkit, which has been launched in Grenada, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, is part of a 30-country initiative.

“Our interaction with our customers in the SME segment convinced us that the greatest deterrent to their sustained success is information,” said Derwin Howell, CEO of Barbados National Bank.

The toolkit provides small business owners with free online access to expert information, along with business forms, how-to articles and software about accessing markets.

“Introducing the SME Toolkit in the Caribbean show’s IFC’s commitment to equipping regional SME owners and managers with the necessary business skills for portfolio expansion and improved profitability,” said Juan Gonzalo Flores, IFC Program Manager, Advisory Services, for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The SME Toolkit initiative is a key part of our efforts to support the sustainability of the Caribbean private sector.”