Dominica: Govt grants EC$1 million to entrepreneurs to foster digitalization

Roseau, Dominica: The Government of Dominica granted EC$1 million to seventy-seven local entrepreneurs through the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project. The grant was presented during an award ceremony that took place on Monday, 22nd July 2024.

During the ceremony, the Minister for Public Works, Public Utilities and the Digital Economy, Fidel Grant expressed his concern towards shortage in digital skills and services regionally. Therefore, he noted that this grant has been designed with a vision to support small and medium-sized enterprises in adapting digital technologies and business models.

The Minister further outlined that this initiative will also help the businesses of Dominica to invest in digital marketing which will directly play a crucial role in boosting their productivity and competitiveness. He also added that by supporting these enterprises, the island nation is not only fostering economic growth but also providing a platform to the local businesses to learn and grow in the digital world.

The grant was launched in December 2023 and was funded by the World Bank in order to ensure that all businesses have the required resources to actively participate in an increasingly digital marketplace and society. The main motive of this project is to ensure the empowerment of every individual and business in the nation with access to digital services in order to drive the creation of a digital culture across Dominica.

The Training and Grants Coordinator of Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, Collin Francis termed this grant “a cornerstone” of the project. This project aims to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies in various sectors.

She noted that this grant ceremony celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of the grant recipients whose innovative ideas and commitment have gracefully embraced the digital transformation. Moreover, she asserted that this grant is a great platform for empowering businesses in order to integrate digital solutions into the workplace by driving growth and creating large number of job opportunities.

Also, Cassani Laville who represented the Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit during the ceremony and stated that the island nation is already fostering in digitalisation and this grant is being brought to sharper its focus. He also noted that Government of Dominica is finding creative ways to create an environment so that the people of the country can thrive and prosper.