GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES BUILDING BANKABLE BUSINESS PROGRAMME TO EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS IN SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, April 24, 2025 (SKNIS): Small business owners and entrepreneurs in Saint Kitts and Nevis are highly encouraged to sign up for the Building Bankable Businesses Financial Literacy Programme, a bold new initiative designed to empower entrepreneurs with the tools they need to grow, succeed and achieve financial success.

The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative Economy in collaboration with the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank. On Thursday (April 24, 2025), a media launch was held at the Solid Waste Management Corporation Conference Room to help generate public awareness..

The Building Bankable Business features an intense six-week boot camp-style training that will equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge to streamline business operations and improve opportunities to access financing. Course material includes budgeting, cash flow management, understanding financial statements, and strategies to manage debt. Sessions on wellness and personal financial health are also offered, emphasising that a healthy entrepreneur is the foundation of a healthy, thriving business.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative Economy, Delrine Taylor, said that a key highlight of the training will teach entrepreneurs how to present their businesses in a way that appeals to financial institutions.

“This includes mastering the documentation required to apply for loans, understanding what banks look for in applicants and developing a financial plan that reflects the true potential of their business,” she stated.

Honourable Samal Duggins, Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative Economy, shared that Thursday’s launch resonates deeply as he personally understands the journey of building a small business from the ground up.

“With just over two years in office, I am happy to report that we have supported well over 300 businesses in securing the financing that they need to thrive. But I am also happy to report that we have not stopped there. We continue to listen, assess and respond. We recognise that gaps and barriers still exist that prevent many from accessing the capital they need, and that is why we are here today,” Minister Duggins stated.

The minister thanked the management and board of National Bank for their commitment to this vital programme. He added that the government will continue to work with partners to grow entrepreneurship and enhance their sustainability. Additional details are available by calling 467-1203 or visiting the Departments’s Facebook Page the https://www.facebook.com/SBDCSKB/