Your Passion, Your Business: Celebrating Business and Entrepreneurship
“Entrepreneurs are national assets to be cultivated and motivated to the greatest possible extent;” Powerful words by authors Geetu George, Joseph Martin, Linto Mathew and Shankar Meembat from their book A Digital Story on NITC Entrepreneurs. Words which truly resound with the Department for Commerce and the Saint Lucia Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA).
After all, as aptly noted by George et al [1] (2016), the significance of entrepreneurs in economy is immense. “New employments are generated with the help of path breaking offerings by entrepreneurs, in the form of new goods and services, which can produce a cascading effect in the economy. New markets are developed and new wealth created through new and improved products or technologies from entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs break away from tradition through their unique offerings of new goods and services which result in an improved quality of life, greater morale and economic freedom,” offer George et al (2016).
It is no wonder then that November 2016 has been dubbed by the Department for Commerce as Business Month, specifically to coincide with and extend local activities for the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) which will this year runs from November 14-20, 2016. According to GEW official website—www.gew.co—GEW is an annual initiative, supported by dozens of world leaders, whereby for “one week each November, thousands of events and competitions are held in 160 countries to inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.”
Determined to continuously nurture entrepreneurs and encourage business formation, growth, and success in St Lucia, the Department for Commerce in collaboration with its subsidiary entities, key stakeholders and affiliates will host a series of activities throughout the month of November. Activities will include symposiums, workshops, showcases, mixers, and debates. Business Month 2016 activities are geared towards encouraging and showcasing professionalism, as well as highlighting entrepreneurship as a means of job creation and a tool to reduce the unemployment ratio.
[1] A Digital Story Book on NITC Entrepreneurs By Geetu George, Joseph Martin, Linto Mathew, Shankar Meembat
