Over 50 owners and founders of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) gathered recently for a direct, high-level dialogue with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, centered on the core theme of “Empowering MSMEs for National Growth”. The landmark event, hosted by the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC) in strategic partnership with the Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC) at Grenada’s Point Salines Hotel, filled a critical gap by creating an open, structured space for small business leaders to interact face-to-face with top government officials and leading business support organizations. The forum was designed explicitly to unpack the most pressing barriers holding back MSME expansion and competitiveness across the island nation.
Attendees included senior representatives from a wide range of public and private sector entities with a mandate to support MSME development: the GIDC, Grenada Development Bank (GDB), Grenada Bureau of Standards (GBS), the Ministry of Trade, Grenada Postal Corporation, the Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPGC), and regional digital solutions provider Ethniv. During the interactive sessions, agency representatives walked attendees through existing programs and resources available to small businesses, while also listening firsthand to the on-the-ground challenges entrepreneurs navigate daily to keep their operations running.
The discussion was rooted in actionable data drawn from GCIC’s recent nationwide MSME Survey, which pinpointed the most common obstacles facing small and medium enterprises across Grenada. Key pain points identified in the research included limited access to affordable financing, weak marketing and brand visibility, constrained production capacity, gaps in export preparation, lack of targeted digital and technology support, and insufficient access to high-quality business training.
Participants in the summit represented the full diversity of Grenada’s MSME ecosystem, spanning agro-processors, traditional artisans, craft producers, small-scale manufacturers, hospitality and professional service providers, and a range of other independent entrepreneurs. The structured, open format gave every business owner the opportunity to voice specific concerns, request clarification on existing government support programs, and submit concrete recommendations to improve the overall regulatory and operational environment for MSMEs across the country.
A central throughline of the day’s conversation was the shared commitment to move beyond merely documenting challenges toward rolling out tangible, time-bound solutions. Prime Minister Mitchell urged MSME leaders to take an active role as advocates for their sector, emphasizing that open dialogue must be paired with consistent, coordinated action to deliver meaningful change. He encouraged entrepreneurs to stay focused on their long-term growth goals and remain engaged in driving the policy and operational changes their businesses need to thrive.
Honourable Andy Williams, Grenada’s Minister for Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation, welcomed the initiative and called for more regular cross-sector dialogues of this kind. Williams highlighted the outsized contribution MSMEs make to Grenada’s economy, from driving job creation and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship to boosting overall national economic resilience and growth.
As a concrete immediate outcome of the summit, stakeholders agreed to establish a dedicated MSME task force led by the GCIC. The body will be tasked with advancing the specific issues and recommendations raised by attendees during the consultation, and ensuring that the perspectives of small business owners remain a core part of national economic policy dialogue going forward. The GCIC will coordinate closely with relevant government and private sector stakeholders to maintain ongoing engagement and track progress on the priority action items identified during the summit.
GCIC Executive Director Petipha Lewis also emphasized the critical need to expand market opportunities for locally produced goods and services. Working in collaboration with the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA) and other industry partners, the chamber will continue advocating for greater adoption of local products and services by hotels, restaurants, and other large businesses across the island. This initiative aims to build stronger, mutually beneficial supply chain linkages between local MSMEs and Grenada’s thriving tourism sector, as well as other parts of the national commercial ecosystem.
In comments on the summit, GCIC leadership reaffirmed the organization’s long-term commitment to strengthening Grenada’s MSME sector through a range of targeted initiatives: sustained policy advocacy, capacity building training, expanded market access programs, networking opportunities, and cross-sector partnerships that connect small businesses with the resources they need to grow.
The event also featured targeted presentations from industry partners working to address key MSME pain points. Carmen Gomez-Tigg, CEO of the Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC), shared details on programs designed to improve MSME access to affordable financing, a top barrier identified in the pre-summit survey. William Gilbert, representing digital commerce solutions provider Ethniv, outlined how the platform supports small businesses in building stronger digital presences and accessing new regional and global market opportunities. The GCIC is preparing to roll out access to the Ethniv e-commerce platform for local MSMEs in the near term, a move expected to help small businesses expand their market reach and capitalize on growth opportunities in the fast-growing digital economy.
In closing, the GCIC expressed its sincere gratitude to all participating entrepreneurs, government agencies, and private sector partners for their contributions that made the high-level engagement a success.