Advancing Innovation, Empowering Enterprise: Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives & the Creative Economy and CARIRI Sign Strategic MOU
Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 4th, 2025 – On May 29, 2025, the Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives & the Creative Economy signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) of Trinidad and Tobago. This strategic partnership marks a critical step toward boosting innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional cooperation in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The MOU was signed by Ms. Delrine Taylor, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, and Mr. Hans-Erich Schulz, Chief Executive Officer of CARIRI, during a formal ceremony held in Basseterre.
The agreement focuses on:
Technical support and training
Innovation and research & development
Entrepreneurial capacity building
Joint project development and funding
Resource sharing and regional networking
CARIRI CEO Mr. Hans-Erich Schulz remarked, “I look forward to the growing and developing and adding value to the people of St. Kitts-Nevis and indeed to CARIRI’s technical base and our ability to provide such expertise and to add skillsets to your labor force so that you can continue to grow and develop. Even though it is a small country, it has big impact.”
In her remarks, Permanent Secretary Ms. Delrine Taylor expressed appreciation for the partnership, stating, “On behalf of the Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives & the Creative Economy, we just want to thank you for taking the time out to be here with us and for taking us along with you on this journey for the growth and development of our MSME sector. We are looking forward to the initiatives and projects that we can put together to develop our economy and entrepreneurs.”
Hon. Samal Duggins, Minister responsible for the Ministry, emphasized the importance of the partnership: “This MOU is a direct investment in our people, in our ideas, and in our economic future. It represents a bold leap forward for innovation and enterprise in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The Ministry remains committed to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, and this collaboration with CARIRI stands as a key pillar in delivering innovative, sustainable solutions that benefit the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean.
