Caribbean businesses interested in furthering their entrepreneurial ambitions are being encouraged by the regional private sector development programme Compete Caribbean to apply for grants available through the organization.
Compete Caribbean, a five-year Caribbean private sector development programme, is targeting Caribbean-based firms which it says can benefit from non-repayable grants ranging from US$100,000 to US$500,000. The entity has set out criteria for grant allocations including the requirement the projects for which grants are being sought be both innovative and commercially. It says that grant awardees will be chosen “based on a competitive bidding process” and that firms seeking grants must furnish a project idea that meets the challenge advertised.
Compete Caribbean styles itself as offering “a new and innovative approach to private sector development that collaborates with governments and private sector groups across the region to improve competitiveness and economic growth. The programme is reportedly being funded by THE Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the UK-based Depart-ment for International Development (DFID) and the Inter American Development Bank. (IDB)
