DOMINICA — The Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC) has launched a new era of private sector collaboration, bringing hundreds of local business leaders together for its flagship Networking & Nibbles event on July 24. The gathering marks the first large-scale member engagement initiative led by newly elected DAIC President Olive Strachan MBE and the organization’s incoming Board of Directors, setting the foundation for a renewed strategic vision focused on interconnected growth for Dominica’s business community.
Held in a relaxed, informal setting, the event offered more than just casual relationship-building. It gave attending members and guests the chance to connect with the new leadership team, gain clarity on DAIC’s strategic priorities for the coming term, and form cross-industry partnerships that can drive long-term business expansion. DAIC has publicly thanked primary event hosts Fort Young Hotel and Archipelago Trading Ltd, whose logistical and financial support made the gathering possible.
Speaking to attendees during the event, President Strachan outlined DAIC’s core commitment under her leadership: to deliver tangible, increased value to members by strengthening ties across the private sector and rolling out targeted support for local business growth.
“Our vision is to build a stronger, more connected business community,” Strachan said. “Networking & Nibbles was more than just an event—it was the beginning of a renewed commitment to collaboration, innovation and supporting businesses across Dominica.”
The evening’s agenda also included a dedicated segment for event sponsors, where representatives from supporting organizations shared their insights on the critical role of cross-sector partnerships in driving national economic progress. Speakers included Cedric Charles, Deputy Managing Director of the National Bank of Dominica; Tyrella Alexander, Sales & Marketing Manager of Springfield Trading Ltd; and Natasha Yeeloy Labad, Chief Executive Officer of Outsource Development Services. All three speakers underscored the mutually beneficial relationship between the private sector and DAIC, and reaffirmed their organizations’ ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant, growing business ecosystem across Dominica. DAIC formally recognized all supporting sponsors, including Springfield Trading Ltd, National Bank of Dominica Ltd., Archipelago Trading Ltd and Outsource Development Services, for their contributions to the event’s success.
Beyond networking, the gathering served as a platform to introduce DAIC members to a suite of new and existing initiatives designed to unlock new growth opportunities for local businesses. Members received a comprehensive update on the KARULINK Project, a regional development resourcing initiative funded by Interreg Caribbean that counts DAIC as a core partner. The update covered the project’s core objectives, current implementation progress, and the tangible benefits it can deliver to small and medium enterprises across Dominica and the broader Caribbean region.
DAIC also highlighted its ongoing partnership with the OECS Finance Readiness Programme, a capacity-building initiative tailored to help local businesses strengthen their financial management capabilities, navigate the requirements of formal lending institutions, and improve their access to capital for sustainable expansion.
In one of the event’s key announcements, Strachan revealed a new upcoming partnership with Digicel Dominica focused on advancing digital transformation and cyber security capacity for local businesses. Loren Challenger, Digicel Dominica’s Corporate Account Manager, delivered a preview of the upcoming program, emphasizing that in an increasingly digital business landscape, local firms must embrace innovative digital tools while also putting robust protections in place to counter growing cyber threats.
Looking ahead to the coming months, DAIC has announced a full slate of upcoming activities to advance its renewed member engagement strategy. These include the annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast Forum scheduled for September, the Chamber’s first ever black-tie fundraising and networking gala, and the launch of a new monthly member newsletter that will highlight member achievements, share open business opportunities, circulate official DAIC updates, and distribute key information relevant to local business operators.
As part of its refreshed approach to member outreach, DAIC plans to continue rolling out a diverse portfolio of engagement activities: regular networking mixers, skills-building training workshops, policy-focused breakfast briefings, public-private policy discussions, site visits for business leaders, member spotlight features, and consistent, transparent communications with the business community.
Chamber leadership emphasized that all these initiatives are part of a long-term effort to amplify the private sector’s voice in national policy and contribute to inclusive, sustainable economic development across Dominica.
“This is only the beginning,” Strachan said. “We are committed to creating more opportunities for businesses to connect, learn and grow together, and we look forward to welcoming even more businesses to future Chamber events.”
DAIC’s official press release notes that any local business interested in joining the organization as a member is invited to contact DAIC directly to learn more about membership benefits, upcoming programming, and engagement opportunities.