JEA conference to focus on small business tools

THE JAMAICA Ex-porters Association (JEA) is staging a small business conference and exhibition in Kingston from June 14-15 to explore options to develop Jam-aica's micro-business sector into a nerve-centre of profitability, job creation, productivity and economic viability.

The conference and business technology support services exhibition will be held at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and executives from several successful small Jamaican companies will discuss their solutions to obstacles of financing, marketing and product development.

JEA member companies to present case studies include McCallas Laboratories, Just Kids, and Bellindo among others. They will share the lessons learnt and how they shaped their entities to record substantial sales increases over the past two years.

The conference and exhibition will also be attended by development bankers who will address the availability of new financing mechanisms, which is so critical to the survival and development of small businesses. Local, regional and overseas buyers and distributors will also be present to discuss new market trends and a high-level official from the US Small Business Administration will give the experiences of how small business has contributed significantly to that country's economic boom.

The Small Business Confer-ence and Business Technology Support Services Exhibition will be addressed by Darryl Dennis, associate deputy administrator for entrepreneurial development at the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

Mr. Dennis will give the keynote address on the morning of June 14, the first full day of the conference, where issues to be addressed include: improving business operations to increase profits; accessing financial and technical support to grow business; utilising information technology to impact on the bottom line; maximising existing markets and targeting new commercial opportunities; and action implications for small businesses.

Mr. Dennis oversees the SBA's technical assistance programmes and plays a significant role in managing its training and resource centres across the United States. His office leverages new resources and works with private sector entities to aid, counsel and train US small businesses and entrepreneurs in the increasingly competitive global and online marketplace.

The conference will cover industry areas such as fresh produce, cut flowers, processed foods, apparel and fashion design, craft and giftware, and services.

The JEA's Small Business Conference and Exhibition is underwritten in part by the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank, and sponsors including JAMPRO, Bank of Nova Scotia, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Technology, the National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica, Fintrac Inc., and Radio Jamaica Limited.

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