The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and the Bahamas Development Bank in a bold new initiative to spur economic growth in Grand Bahama.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Dr. Doswell Coakley, president of GBCC, said that the Chamber is committed to working with the GBPA, the Bahamas government and anyone else who wants to invest in the development of Grand Bahama.
The first product of this new partnership is the formation of a resource centre for small enterprises, where new and existing businesses can acquire key information in making their businesses successful.
The Business Information Centre (BIC), located at the Chamber’s office, is modelled after the Nassau-based centre, which has been operating for the past two years.
The centre will provide a place where small business owners can be taught the necessary skills needed to properly manage their businesses.
The different services that will be offered at the centre include book management training, guidance for new business owners and much more. There will be persons on hand to set up seminars and workshops for businesses as well.
Bahamas Development Bank Deputy Chairperson Fritz Stubbs said their mission is to finance economically viable, small and medium size enterprises.
“We would like to see more small businesses succeed,” he said. “We feel that it is our responsibility to work with you to develop small businesses, and that is our role.”
Noting that 100 small businesses is better that 50 large ones, Mr. Stubbs said Grand Bahama knows too well what can happen when a large company goes out of business.
Grand Bahama Port Authority CEO and Co-chaiman Julian Francis said that the time for development of the island of Grand Bahama is right now.
He added that the GBPA believes that the small business sector is a critical component in any developing economy.
“It just seems to me that a number of factors would suggest strongly that there is a great opportunity for this island to assume its rightful place in the economy of The Bahamas,” Mr. Francis said.
The Bahamas Information Centre is officially opened for business and it is located at the Chamber of Commerce office.
By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter
