In Focus

Government Procurement

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You Are ReadingVol. 01 Issue. 07

May 17, 2013 Edition

Young Innovators

CHEFFETE FUN RUN

MAY 19.

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MAY 27, 29 & 30.

MEMBERS’MEETING MAY 28.

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Eight young local finalists in The Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2013 showed evidence that youth innovation and entrepreneurship is alive and well in Barbados.

The finialist showcased their creativity and enterprise at the recently held expo at the Hilton. Among the very creative business projects were Book Line, a textbook loan and rental company; Ibis Bath & Body, organic and luxury spa and beauty products; Med Regis, a consolidated medical registry; Red Donor, a social web application that puts blood donors in touch with those who need assistance and Shakad Designer Wear a fashion design company. “The Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) is an international entrepreneur competition and business start-up accelerator for young people in the CARICOM Member states. Awarding projects in three categories (Social, Economic and Environmental), the CIC promotes innovation, the development of entrepreneurial initiatives, and taps into the potential of young people to generate ideas that benefit their societies and communities.

The CIC is a component of the UNDP project Youth Innovation (Youth-IN): which responds to the needs of youth identified in the report of the CARICOM Youth Commission (2010): ‘Eye on the Future: Investing in YOUTH NOW for Tomorrow’s Community’. The CIC focuses on training and mentoring as

preparation for the competition, and providing follow up services that include access to finance, networking activities, internships and promotion opportunities – which are key support services for young entrepreneurs.

The objective of the programme is to promote youth entrepreneurship and will create an ecosystem for young entrepreneurs.

Yo u t h - i n - E n t r e p r e n e u r s s h i p , a partnership between UNDP Barbados and the OECS and YABT, promotes innovation and youth entrepreneurship, in coordination with public/private alliances and stakeholders. There was a high degree of innovation and the creativity from the young persons involved. Congratulations are in order for BookLine which received the award for Best Social Entrepreneur and who will now go on to compete at the Hemispheric Level .

The Walk the Talk committee will demonstrate their support of the Auntie Olga Needy Children’s Fund by participating in the Chefette Fun Run, The Fun Run will take place May 19, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. and interested companies can join the Walk The Talk committee as a group. Members and i n t e r e s t e d p e r s o n s can also purchase the Chefette Fun Run T-shirts (regular price: $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for c h i l d r e n ) to support the Auntie Olga Needy Children’s Fund. As part of the Walk the Talk Group, you will be able to purchase your adult T-Shirts for a discounted price of $20.00 (adults). Call 434-4750 to register your numbers today.

Ms. Andrea Taylor, committee member and Business Operations Manager of the Small Business Association said this would be a great opportunity for members and Barbadians in general to support a worthy cause. She further encouraged any person who had pedometers that were malfunctioning to return them to the SBA or the Barbados Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) to be replaced. In the interim, the committee is suggesting that those awaiting replacement pedometers can download special free apps on their ipods and phones to count their steps.

Walk the Talk for Needy Kids

SBA Outlook Newsletter May 15, 2013

The transparency of the regional procurement process came under scrutiny by those attending the one-day National Consultation on Government Procurement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on April 24, 2013.

The consultation was organised by the CARICOM Secretariat and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for representatives of Government agencies, the Labour Movement, the private sector and civil society, to give them an update on the requirements within CARICOM to liberalise Government Procurement in the Community. During the question and answer period attendees sought clarity on the process and how CARICOM intended to ensure that the proposed system remained fair. Senator Ince noted that the consultations were just the “beginning of an important dialogue. Our negotiators are considering how best to include Government

Procurement in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas” Head of the CSME Unit, Ivor Carryl,noted that

Government Procurement was not one of the areas discussed when the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was concluded. “But we now have been able to make progress both by the homework of Member states and from that homework, writing a policy document,” he noted.He sa id tha t they were committed to achieving task of integrating Government Procurement into the CSME. Meanwhile, Barbadian SMEs continue to wait anxiously on the promised 40% procurement policy that was enunciated by the Stuart administration . While many agree on the need for such a policy and can see the substantial benefits that can follow from the implementation of said policy, the policy has not yet been implemented .

Whither Government Procurement?

Started in 2001, Capello Salon is a full service hair and beauty salon. At the helm of the operation is master stylist Carlos Eversley who has been a stylist for the past twenty (20) years. They offer a full range of unisex hair care services for Caucasian, African, Hispanic and Asian hair types. Capello’s offers an exceptional customer experience with knowledgeable, trend conscious and friendly stylists who thrive on making their customers not only pleased but ecstatic about their hair. The Capello team is not just about hairstyling but total hair care. They offer each client a consultation, giving diet, lifestyle and product change recommendations to improve hair quality. In January 2013, Capello expanded operations to include a full service spa to ensure that customers not only have beautiful hair but flawless skin, relaxed minds and bodies. Providing a medical spa technician and a range of manicures, pedicures, massages, microdermabrasions and a list of other services. Capello Salon opens from 10 a.m.. to 6 p.m.. from Tuesday to Saturday and services are by appointment only. The staff at Capello awaits you! Tel: 246-437-7148 . e-mail :capellothesalon@gmail.com.

SBA MEMBER

SPOTLIGHT

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,

Senator Jepter Ince

The signing of a resolution by the Social Partners to extend the sixth protocol while a new one is being negotiated for signing by May 2014 recently took place at government headquarters. For the SBA Outlook, it brought back into focus sections of this Protocol.

3.15 The Social Partners also recognise the integral role of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the productive sectors of the economy and their potential to contribute to increased levels of investment and employment. They further agree, given the peculiarity of circumstances due to their size and vulnerability, that special attention

will be paid to this category within the productive sectors. 3.16 The Social Partners in furtherance of the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises commit themselves in particular to support the following: (f) policies which promote

a culture of prompt payment which would assist in the maintenance of viable businesses and thereby contribute to social inclusion.With the Protocols’ vision to make Barbados The Number One

Entrepreneurial Hub in the World by 2020, it is left to be seen what specific

measures will be put in place by the current administration to achieve this. Indeed much work still needs to be done to allow relevant businesses to become internationally compliant with International Standards Organisation (ISO), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Extending Protocol VI

Prime Minister Stuart signing Protocol V1 in the presense Ministers and other members of the Social

Partnership. (Barbados Today Photo)

SBA Outlook Newsletter May 15, 2013

Economic Madness

Creative ways to market SMEs using available ICT, including ways to maximise market exposure, social media, and building brand and market share will be the focus of the Small Business Association(SBA) Members’ Network Forum on May 28, 2013 under the theme “ ICT: Innovative, Competitive & On Target”. Ms. Andrea Taylor, Business Operations Manager of the SBA in announcing the forum said that the changing landscape of business necessitated that SMEs reevaluate their marketing and promotion strategies and use other channels to get their messages out there. This forum would serve to give members the opportunity to see what other channels they could use to successfully reach their customers.Ms. Taylor noted that while

traditional avenues of advertising and promotion could still be used, they were sometimes rather costly and outside the reach of the average micro and small business. “Successful integration of ICT, she added, would give businesses a wider but more targeted reach as well as allow for a constant dialogue with customers and potential customers”.“This is also an exciting time for some of our members to showcase some of the wonderful things they are doing in ICT. We continue to be proud of the ingenuity of our members and members of the public will get to see this as well” she added.The members’ meeting will take place on Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Bagnall Point Gallery, Pelican Village.

The Small Business Association (SBA) is the island’s non-governmental, non-profit representative body for micro, small and medium enterprises. The SBA seeks to expand business opportunities for its members, provide educational and developmental services and lobby to ensure an enabling environment

for the growth and sustainability of the SME sector. For more information on the work of the Small Business Association, please visit our website: http://www.sba.org.bb

Focus on SME Marketing Opportunities

Albert Einstein once noted, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results”. It is against this very poignant maxim that I wonder if we are engaged in economic insanity as some sections of our business community continue the perennial exercise of crying out for protectionist type government interventions and lamenting the need to sustain an unrealistic monopoly on goods and services. Don’t get me wrong, governments, particularly in small island states like Barbados, have the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in the society – micro firms, women, youth, differently able, etc. However, when you scan the business landscape, the groups often making the most noise are firms that arguably should have attained a level of business sophistication having operated in some cases, in excess of three decades. It would appear, they want for us to continue our development of ‘doing the same things over and

over again’ despite the fact that the rules of trade have changed following the end of the Cold War. The facts today are that we can no longer get the desired results of economic development using the old methods of protectionism and preferences. It is incumbent that we look to do things differently and become more focus on competitive business models that are internationally viable. This brings me to the point at hand. One of the international franchises suggested that one way for it to survive is for government to give some consideration to the high duties currently imposed on items it needs to supply to customers but cannot procure locally. It has also stated that rather than growing, as it so badly wants to, it may have to close. It has pointed out that it currently uses local products but requires specialised items which are not available locally and/or in the quantity and quality required.

LAST WORD FROM THE CEO

What I find most troubling about the debate around this issue, is that on the one hand we are seemingly advocating a policy that forces businesses like Subway and Burger King and others, to only consider local alternatives no matter the cost but miss the opportunities to encourage or assist our local businesses to become more sophisticated and innovative. Yes, I wish to see these new entrants in the market buy our local products but let the debate also focus on getting our businesses to the level to consistently deliver those products at the standard required. Local companies cannot use only protectionist defenses as their means to grow their businesses but must also be challenged to become internationally competitive, to export and earn foreign exchange. In a country where tourism is big business, its a worrisome trend for us to seek to encourage the presence of international brands while at the same time imposing unrealistic obstacles on their ability to meet the international standards that are germane to their existence as a brand. Several years ago we had

a policy where companies seeking to operate in Barbados brought in their own people but had to recruit local managers to ensure knowledge transfer and development of our human capital. This created a cadre of quality professionals for us following the closer of Intel and CDS, among others. Why can’t the same policy be considered now relative to sourcing of goods for international brands? These firms can provide a local manufacturer or consortium of businesses, with the specifications for their products to be developed locally, thereby increasing the capacity of our local companies to produced at international levels. This would mean building capacity and attaining international certification within local industry.We need to help or force our medium size businesses to look outside of the box and develop the necessary business sophistication to operate in a global market. Rather than allowing local companies to open twenty similar storefronts in a country of just over quarter million people. The rules of trade have obviously changed and our business sector needs to read the memo. .

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