Two simultaneous sensitization workshops will be held on Bequia and Union Island this Thursday, May 3, to sensitize businesses in the Grenadines about how they can apply for funding under the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS) being executed by Caribbean Export.
The DAGS, which is funded by the European Union under the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, is designed to support established businesses with strong potential to export their products and services.
Caribbean Export Development Agency opened its latest Call for Proposals (CfP) under its DAGS on April 23, giving an opportunity for businesses within CARIFORUM to receive the funding. The grant allows reimbursements to a maximum of 70% of the total value of projects and this is capped at 50,000 Euros. The minimum grant amount that can be applied for is 10,000 Euros.
Thursday’s initiatives on Bequia and Union Island are part of efforts by Invest SVG and the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc (CED) to promote the DAGS and enlighten the local business sector about the programme. The sessions will be conducted by Caribbean Export Country Advisors, who were among sixteen (16) individuals from Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines trained and certified last month in Antigua.
SVG’s Country Advisors are Angenella Young, Sianne Timm and Hazel-Ann Nero-Roberts of Invest SVG and Keisha Phillips and Nisha Glasgow from the CED.
As Country Advisors, these individuals are key to the new DAGS. They were trained by Caribbean Export on all aspects of the DAGS – especially the application and reimbursement process – as they will act as an extension of the DAGS unit and be the first contact point with businesses at the national level to address concerns and questions. A Terms of Reference (TOR) to guide the new Country Advisors on their roles and responsibilities was distributed. Each Country Advisor also signed a Confidentiality Agreement.
The session on Bequia will be held at the Bequia Community High School by Angenella Young and Keisha Phillips; while in Union Island Hazel-Ann, Nero-Roberts and Nisha Glasgow will conduct the session at the Learning Resource Centre in Ashton.
The sensitization sessions are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
