{"id":139778,"date":"2021-10-17T08:43:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T12:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=139778"},"modified":"2021-10-17T08:43:09","modified_gmt":"2021-10-17T12:43:09","slug":"digital-transition-grants-awarded-to-23-msmes-by-government-of-antigua-and-barbuda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/digital-transition-grants-awarded-to-23-msmes-by-government-of-antigua-and-barbuda\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Transition Grants Awarded to 23 MSMEs by Government of Antigua and Barbuda"},"content":{"rendered":"
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COVID-19 has forced many societal changes and has accelerated the need for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation within the Caribbean.<\/p>

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Businesses, specifically micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who are critical to the socio-economic growth of the region have been hit hard by the pandemic and require support to transform their operations in order to recover and grow.<\/p>\n

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has launched a grant programme for MSMEs operating in Antigua and Barbuda, whose owners are desirous of transitioning their businesses to an online or digital model and providing safe deliveries. This is programme is being implemented in collaboration with the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, the United Nations Office for South-South Corporation and the United Nations Development\u00a0Programme\u00a0(UNDP)<\/p>

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The initiative, which is a part of the \u201cStrengthening National Health Capacities and Reducing Negative Socio-economic Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis in Antigua and Barbuda\u201d is providing up to XCD 10,000 to MSMEs in the\u00a0agriculture (agribusiness, farming, fishery, and livestock), manufacturing, hospitality (events and catering\/food and beverage), health (services and health wellness) and tourism<\/em>\u00a0sectors to conduct activities such as, but not limited to developing or subscribing to an e-commerce website, purchasing a domain name and web hosting platform for an e-commerce website and facilitating online merchant payment arrangement with a financial institution.<\/p>

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Speaking on the importance of the programme, Amb. Aubrey Webson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Nations for Antigua and Barbuda noted \u201cThis project once again showed the importance of the South-South corporation and the full engagement of the UN System. Thanks to the Government of India and UNDP for responding to my request to repurpose the funds to support the effort of the recovery and place the youth in economic activities and provide equipment and material for the health response to the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to say that \u201cWe began this project a year ago, firstly with an urgent response to the health challenge of COVID-19 by collaborating with UNDP and the Government of India through the South-South corporation project by reshaping this response to meet both the health and recovery challenges. The UNDP responded speedily by assisting us in purchasing equipment and health supplies for the hospital. Once the health challenge was addressed, we turned our attention to supporting individuals, especially the youth, in the recovery process. The project also reached out and provided small grants to some displaced workers.\u201d<\/p>

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After a stringent selection process, the following MSME\u2019s were awarded grants to transition their businesses to thrive in the digital landscape:<\/p>\n