Jamaican entrepreneurs and businesses are set to benefit from greater access to practical business support following the launch of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) – Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica (YEA) Business Development Centre.

The Centre, officially launched today, is being established as an affordable, accessible one-stop business growth and competitiveness hub, connecting entrepreneurs and employers with professional expertise, training, mentorship, Government services, financing, procurement, and market opportunities.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Delano Seiveright, welcomed the initiative, arguing that Jamaica must focus not only on creating businesses, but on building enterprises capable of growing and competing internationally. “Jamaica does not simply need more businesses. We need better businesses. Stronger businesses.

More productive businesses. More resilient businesses. More export-ready businesses. And ultimately, Jamaican businesses capable of competing successfully anywhere in the world,” he said.

Minister Seiveright said the Centre can play an important role in helping entrepreneurs strengthen the systems and capabilities needed to take advantage of opportunities in Jamaica and overseas.

“Many businesses don’t fail because the entrepreneur lacked a good idea. They fail because of weaknesses in execution, systems, management, cash flow, governance, technology and market access,” he said.

“A small business should not have to wait until it becomes a large business before it learns how to operate like one. Build those disciplines early.”The Centre is designed to help businesses address the practical challenges that can limit growth, from strengthening internal systems and management practices to becoming better prepared for financing, procurement and market opportunities.

Minister Seiveright said the Centre should complement rather than duplicate existing Government business-support services and could serve as an effective entry point into the wider ecosystem.

“This Centre therefore should not duplicate Government. It can become an effective front door into the wider business-support ecosystem,” he said, pointing to potential connections with the

Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), JAMPRO, EXIM Bank, Bureau of Standards Jamaica, Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) and the Companies Office of Jamaica, among others.

The initiative also marks a significant milestone for YEA, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary after being established through JEF two decades ago. The renewed partnership brings together YEA’s entrepreneurship network with JEF’s expertise in employer services, human resource development, industrial relations and workplace solutions.

Minister Seiveright said the partnership supports the Government’s wider objective of creating pathways for Jamaican enterprises to progress from micro and small businesses into larger, more competitive companies.

“We must create pathways for micro businesses to become small businesses; small businesses to become medium businesses; medium businesses to become large businesses; and Jamaican businesses of every size to become globally competitive.”

He challenged entrepreneurs to look beyond Jamaica’s domestic market and position themselves to take advantage of emerging opportunities in technology, exports, reconstruction, global supply chains and other areas.

“Being a small country does not require us to think small,” Minister Seiveright said. “So let us build Jamaican businesses that are productive, resilient, technologically capable, export-oriented and globally ambitious.”