Local IT Businesses continue to benefit from Government Grants
Press Release
April 5, 2017

Local IT Businesses continue to benefit from Government Grants

Kingstown, April 3, 2017: The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has made significant progress in boosting the development of the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector. To this end, grants totalling more than XCD 2.5 million have been distributed to twenty-one (21) local businesses within the past year.

The funds were awarded through the Business Incubation and Training Grants programme that is a component of the Caribbean Regional Infrastructure Programme (CARCIP) SVG project that was launched in 2014. CARCIP SVG forms part of Government’s initiative to increase the range of local business enterprises utilising modern technology, support business expansion and create jobs.

Under the Business Incubation Grants programme, sixteen (16) businesses, including existing and start-up enterprises have each received funding of up to XCD 150,000. A total of over XCD 1.4 million has been disbursed. The businesses received funding for equipment, software and marketing support. The recipients are also receiving assistance in the development of skills as incubatees of the National Centre of Technological Innovation (NCTI) Business Incubator Programme. Six (6) incubatees located across St. Vincent are being supported virtually while ten (10) are residential incubatees stationed at the NCTI’s Business Incubator at the Diamond Industrial Estate.

 
Business Incubation grant recipients are:
 
Name of Business Industry/Nature of Business
Konservi ICT/Mobile Application Advertising
ITC Orbit ICT/Information Technology Services (Network Systems, support services etc.)
NetMedia Information Solutions ICT/Web Development and Internet Consulting
MyCaritech ICT/Online School/Onsite Robotics Programme
Ekofinez Manufacturing/Metal/Wood Fabrication (2D printing)
ITFX Digital Solutions ICT/Information Technology Services (Audio-Visual, telecommunications, etc.)
Stormywindz Productions Studios Creative and Cultural/Production company (Video, audio, photography)
Ekapps ICT/Website development and Business software services
3A’s Technology Services ICT/Mobile device software repairs
MetroCaribbean Tourism/Website and Mobile Application Advertising
FSimages Tourism/Digital Photography
Auxano ICT/Mobile application and website development, Business Software development
Green Finger Farms Agriculture/Virtual Farmers Market
MHR Holdings ICT/Business Processing Outsourcing
Paris Engineering Manufacturing/3D Structural Engineering/Designing
Modern Language School of SVG ZICT/Traditional and online classes in Spanish and English as a second Language

Under CARCIP SVG’s Training Grants programme, six (6) businesses are benefiting from funding of up XCD 150,000. This programme has committed XCD 586,000 in grants for Vincentian small businesses and non-government institutions. The training is improving the skills set of their employees/members in ICT or ICT-related areas. Businesses also received equipment and software to support the training activities.

 
Training Grant recipients are:

Name of Business Nature of Business
KMK Fashion Manufacturing/Fashion Designing and Dressmaking
STEM SVG Summer Camp ICT/Training Organization
SVG Save the Children Fund Health & Wellness/Child development, Child development training and Community development
SVG Institute of Architects Construction/Association for Architects, Engineers, Surveyors
MILC Vision Creative and Cultural/Audio visual suite and recording studio
Tami B Designs Creative and Cultural/Swimwear and resort wear manufacturing

Meanwhile, over three hundred and ten (310) Vincentians have received ICT training at the NCTI over the past year. The Government distributed approximately XCD 300,000 thousand in bursaries under the CARCIP Training Grants programme to cover eighty percent (80%) of the cost for courses.

Courses included webpage design, mobile app design and development, graphic design, Cisco Certified Associate, Android development, Comptia A+, Security + and Network +.

Interested persons can contact the NCTI at 456-2971or visit www.svgncti.org for more information.

 
 
CARCIP SVG is a regional initiative that involves St. Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The project is financed through a loan by the World Bank. The Business Incubation and Training Grants Programme is estimated to cost XCD 4.185 million. CARCIP SVG is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour.