A total of 37 entrepreneurs have to date benefited from the Product Development for Small and Medium Enterprises Programme, which is being implemented by the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) in collaboration with the Bureau of Standards Jamaica.

As contained in a document tabled in the House of Representatives recently by Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell, the programme disburses funds to develop and strengthen companies within the small and medium enterprise sector. Also provided is information and technical support to comply with standard requirements for product, packaging and labelling and anti-dumping regulations.

The total programme cost is $19 million and the maximum awarded to each beneficiary is $500,000.

There are two categories of beneficiaries under the programme: Type 1, which includes projects promoting an industry-specific product and standard development such as expositions, workshops, conferences and trade fairs, while Type 2 projects are those aimed at product and prototype development such as research, packaging and labelling designs.

Assistance is also provided to businesses in the craft, fashion and agro-processing sectors.

The JBDC has overall responsibility for the execution of the programme.