Government Nears Completion Of Revised SME Policy

Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Leroy Baptiste, says the Ministry is in the final stages of revising the National Micro and Small Enterprise Policy. Delivering the keynote address at the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s World SME Day 2026 Networking Seminar, he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to providing small business owners with the support, guidance and mentorship needed to thrive. “As a Government, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building an environment where entrepreneurship can thrive and where citizens are empowered to participate meaningfully in our nation’s economic development. We are also in the final stages of revising our National Micro and Small Enterprise Development Policy and Implementation Plan, which will provide a renewed strategic framework for the development of the sector.” Minister Baptiste also stressed the importance of collaboration to address one of the major barriers faced by entrepreneurs — access to financing. “Collaboration is no longer optional. Government must create supporting frameworks, financial institutions must continue exploring solutions that meet the reality of small businesses, established businesses must support linkages and mentorship. The essence of collaboration is bringing together our institutions, our resources and our people.” Meanwhile, project practitioner and entrepreneur Shivani Seunarine introduced participants to AI frameworks that can be immediately implemented within their businesses, while SME and family business adviser Sajjad Hamid encouraged business owners to focus on succession planning.