Barbados Trust Fund Limited General Manager, Gerry Amos. (FP)

Members of the public are encouraged to support the entrepreneurs who will be showcasing their products at the Ministry of Energy and Business Development’s Business Fair and Expo, on Friday, March 25, on the grounds of the Warrens Office Complex.

General Manager of the Barbados Trust Fund Limited (BTFL), Gerald Amos, said his organisation would be sponsoring the BEF/St. Leonard’s Boys’ School Mr. Executive $20 challenge, and urged Barbadians to be part of this important event, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“Please come out and support these young people because the last time we had an initiative for those students, their products sold out very early,” Mr. Amos said.

He made the comments today during a media briefing at the Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, to discuss the Business Fair and Expo, which is being held under the theme Building A Stronger Business Community.

Mr. Amos noted that the businesses would be showcasing their products and services, and identified some of the items to be displayed by six BTFL’s entrepreneurs as: natural homemade wines; baked goods; handcrafted jewellery from precious metals and stones; wood creations, and oils made from locally sourced herbs, including lemongrass, basil and garlic.

The various departments and agencies under the Ministry’s portfolio will be showcased at the expo, and information will be shared on starting a business, business development, financial literacy training, standards development, consumer/supplier rights and obligations, accessing financing, and dealing with debt.

Giving the background to the event, co-ordinator and Supervisor of Insolvency, Ester Springer, said the initiative was organised because of some developments being witnessed in businesses.

Mrs. Springer noted that the main causes of bankruptcy and insolvency continued to be poor corporate governance, poor financial management, excessive borrowing and bad or failed investments.

“And what we noticed…among all of the businesses, …was a general lack of knowledge of the business environment, as well as in relation to financial literacy.

“As part of our mandate, we’re not only responsible for identifying the causes of bankruptcy and insolvency, but also developing policies and programmes which are aimed at addressing root causes, and this is one of the initiatives that we conceptualised,” she explained.

An Energy Village will be set up at the fair and expo, and those visiting will have the opportunity to see what is available on the market in solar and renewable energy products and electric vehicles, and learn about the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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