The Ministry of Energy and Business, in conjunction with the Barbados Trust Fund Limited (BTFL), will host a Business Fair and Expo – the Community Edition – on Saturday, June 25, at Hoyte’s Pavilion and Playing Field, Hoyte’s Village, St. James.
The fair and expo, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., brings together businesses from several sectors. Various departments and agencies under the Ministry’s portfolio will be in attendance, as well as clients of the Small Business Development Centre Network.
Some of the government organisations being showcased are the BTFL, FundAccess, The Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office, the Financial Literacy Bureau, the Co-operatives Department, and the Office of the Public Counsel.
Public and private sector players offering renewable energy solutions, resilient housing solutions, and insurance and financing products will also be present, including commercial banks and credit unions. The event will also feature a Beauty Corner, a Food Court and a Kids Zone.
Over 50 small businesses are expected to participate, and they will offer goods and services such as fashion, beauty care, confectionery, condiments, leather accessories, jewellery and plants.
The initiative is aimed at stimulating economic activity within the productive sectors, and targets business owners, persons looking for investment opportunities and other members of the public.
It will also give persons an opportunity to interact with Ministry officials, as they share information on starting a business, business development, accessing financing and dealing with debt, as well as standards development, among others.
There will be several DJs playing music throughout the day, and from 5:00 p.m., there will be a cultural presentation and several live performances from popular local artistes.