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Denis Kellman, Minister of??Industry, Small Business and Rural Development,?? cuts the ribbon and officially opens Accents and??D??cor at Mall Internationale, last night while Chief Executive Officer, Celine Payne assists. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

The opening of Accents and D??cor at Mall Internationale last night was warmly welcomed by Minister of Industry, Small Business and Rural Development, Denis Kellman.

Delivering remarks at the official opening, Minister Kellman congratulated Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Celine Payne, for developing what was once a dream into a reality.?? The store aims to allow Barbadians to "live in style", on a manageable budget.??????

The Minister noted that the store offered an assortment of items and appealed to "a wide-cross section of the population". He commended the CEO on her business prowess and pointed out that the quality of the products had not been compromised.

"The adoption of such a philosophy builds on a business idea that has been well thought out, and which caters to a market that has been well researched. I commend you for your courage and your acumen. These are two qualities that will certainly aid your survival," the Small Business Minister reasoned.

Reaffirming the Ministry’s support for the development of small businesses, Minister Kellman stated: "The mandate of the Ministry of Industry, Small Business and Rural Development is to create an environment that is conducive to the establishment of start-ups… We have tried through various programmes and policies to facilitate funding, but we are cognisant of the fact that more needs to be done by way of the regulatory framework.??

The Minister further noted that the Small Business Development Act was currently under review to evaluate its relevance for the present environment, adding that "there are areas that must be expanded if the Act is to be more inclusive."

sharifa.medford@barbados.gov.bb

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