Business Economic Development Ocean Governance and Fisheries Tourism

The OECS Commission's UBEC initiative Hosts Business Development Services Information Sessions for MSMEs in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

September 23, 2025

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, through the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project and funded by the World Bank, recently hosted Business Development Services (BDS) Information Sessions for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The sessions included an in-person session on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the Centre for Enterprise Development Conference Room in Kingstown, followed by a virtual session on Thursday, September 18, 2025, via Zoom. These sessions followed successful engagements in Grenada and Saint Lucia, ensuring that MSME owners across the region are informed and prepared to access grant funding under the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme.

Simone Murray, UBEC Business Development Services Consultant in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines led the information session. Murray says,

“This section of the Matching Grants Programme which speaks to business development also allows persons to participate in business training and some of the training that they would be exposed to is financial management, marketing, human resource management, customer service and also support for developing their grant proposals to be submitted on the UBEC Matching Grants Programme.”

Franze George, Organisational and Business Consultant in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, comments,

“I’m really happy to hear about the opportunity and what is being offered for persons across the three sectors. Personally, I have clients in two sectors, and I do think this is a good opportunity for them. What I look forward to is not just them applying but them also getting an opportunity to be part of a training. I think that is an aspect that sets this opportunity apart from others that I have seen so far. Kudos to UBEC and OECS.”

Gaidell Andrews, Business Development Officer at the Centre for Enterprise Development, adds,

“I think that the session was quite informative and I am very happy that they are taking this initiative to assist MSMEs to get an opportunity to get some type of funding to assist their businesses and to see potential growth within their businesses.”

Purpose of the Sessions

The BDS Information Sessions provided MSME owners in the Fisheries, Marine Tourism, and Waste Management sectors with detailed information on:

The availability of grant funding.
How to apply under Window 1 and Window 2.
The training and capacity-building opportunities available, including modules in financial management, marketing, human resource management, customer service, and proposal development.
Grant eligibility requirements.

About the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme

The programme is a flagship component of UBEC designed to provide financial support and technical assistance to MSMEs engaged in the Blue Economy. It strengthens competitiveness, encourages innovation, and builds climate resilience.

Window 1: Offers grants of USD $5,000 – $25,000 for individual MSMEs.
Window 2: Offers grants of USD $100,000 – $150,000 for value chain partnerships (three or more MSMEs collaborating).

Already, the programme has begun transforming businesses across the region, supporting entrepreneurs in expanding operations, creating jobs, and accessing new markets.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme, MSMEs must:

Be legally registered and operating in Grenada, Saint Lucia, or Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.
Provide Articles of Incorporation or Business Name Registration.
Have been in operation for at least two (2) years.
Employ fewer than 50 people and generate less than USD $1,000,000 annually.

Next Steps – Window 1 Launching Soon

The Window 1 Call for Proposals of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme will be launched at a virtual event on Friday, October 17, 2025, opening new funding opportunities for MSMEs in the Blue Economy. The OECS Commission strongly encourages MSMEs in Fisheries, Marine Tourism, and Waste Management to prepare and apply.

About UBEC

The OECS Commission’s Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) is a regional initiative managed by the OECS Commission and financed by the World Bank. It aims to unlock the economic potential of marine and coastal resources while ensuring environmental sustainability. UBEC is currently being implemented in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

For more information:
📧 ubecgrant@oecs.int
🌐 Visit: https://oecs.int/en/unleashing-the-blue-economy/mgp