THE JAMAICA Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has rolled out a five-day technology workshop aimed at equipping Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs with the requisite skill to grow their businesses.

The Computerised Job Estimation Tool workshop, which is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), will see some 35 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise contractors and artisans taking part.

"It is built around a (Microsoft) Excel platform and it sets up these individuals to operate and think as a business person. This makes a big difference, because it covers all those concerns that a bigger business would have," said Kenneth Harvey, Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services network coordinator at the CDB.

State minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson, who was addressing the launch of the workshop at the Courtleigh Hotel on Monday, said "This is exactly the kind of energy revolution" needed in today's business.

"Moving ahead as MSMEs, as business owners and, indeed, as a nation on a mission, having recognised our challenges, the time has come for us to fully explore and embrace the technological resources that equip us for growth and development."

Priority sector

Robinson said as his Government continues to implement and provide opportunities to encourage small business growth, priority must be placed on developing MSMEs.

"Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprises contribute significantly to GDP (gross domestic product). They are a multi-million dollar sector that can bring added economic growth and employment to the country.

"With the Planning Institute of Jamaica micro and small businesses provisional figures indicating that as of 2011 there were 6,665 micro businesses and 3,773 small enterprises in Jamaica, it is clear that this is a sector that must be encouraged and be provided with the necessary resources for them to be fully sustainable," Robinson said.

nedburn.thaffe@gleanerjm.com