BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - EIGHT businesses in St. Kitts are presently engaged in discussions with the Export Development Unit of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on boosting their entities with the use of Technology.
A two-day workshop, which began this morning (Jun. 16) at the Timothy Beach Hotel, is targeting businesses already in, and those looking to venture into e-Business and e-Commerce.
In an exclusives interview, Business Development Officer in the OECS Export Development Unit with responsibility for Innovative Marketing Systems, Marlon Marie explained the goal of the project to this publication.
He stated that the OECS Secretariat is implementing a wider project and part of it is the utilisation of technology to boost innovation and creativity among businesses, "as well as creative opportunities for them to grow their businesses within the OECS Economic Union and also to export their goods and services".
"So we are going around to each of the islands right now conducting this two-day workshop. As part of that, we have our clients here and we will be conducting a survey and the survey is geared towards finding out exactly what our businesses do in terms of e-Business and e-Commerce, if they actually do anything at all.
"It will allow us to develop a wider OECS e-Business and e-Commerce strategy. We will also be providing some technical assistance for some of these clients in the form of developing websites, providing social media marketing and any other areas where they might need assistance, Marie explained.
Marie also explained that one of the areas they are looking at is energy audits for businesses. He said that with the aid of a consulting company, they would monitor the energy use for some time and make recommendations for that business to save on energy cost, such as changing light fixtures, upgrading generators, etc.
"We are basically looking at everything in terms of technology and how technology can be used to boost your business, be more efficient and effective," he added.
Marie said, for the two-day workshop, they would be holding discussions with the clients after which the businessmen and businesswomen would fill out survey forms.
He informed that the businesses would be assessed and those who have requested assistance would be provided.
St. Kitts is the second of the OECS islands to be engaged in the workshop, with Anguilla being the first last week.
Marie said the EDU would be making its stop in Antigua later this week, followed by St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica and Montserrat.
He said the British Virgin Islands and Nevis would be having the workshop via video conference.
