Two small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been selected by the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), to receive coaching on how to improve their competitiveness.

The two companies will sign the official Pilot Coaching Agreement Contract, during a ceremony on Friday, March 26, at BNSI Headquarters, Culloden Road, St. Michael, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The project, which is a component of the draft CARICOM Standards, forms part of CROSQ/Inter-American Development Bank, Multi-Lateral Investment Fund Project, entitled: Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises Competitiveness in the Caribbean through Technical Standards.

The aim of the venture is to facilitate trade in goods and services regionally and extra-regionally by strengthening the viability of SMEs.

The four components of the project are: to promote awareness-raising activities for the public and private sectors; the development of technical standards and conformity assessment guidelines; providing training; and the establishment of a national and regional information system.?? It will also facilitate the training of country experts involved in standardisation work.

As part of the Pilot Coaching Programme, the businesses will be assisted by a consultant who will "ensure that their products meet the requirements of the standards being developed under the project".

jwilson@barbados.gov.bb

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