MINISTER OF COMMERCE, Consumer Affairs and Business Development, Senator Lynette Eastmond says there is a need to focus on small businesses in a serious way.

She made the comments recently at the inaugural ceremony of the SME Network and Database Training & Development Programme at the Island Inn, Aquatic Gap, St Michael.

"We need to pool all of the resources of the region and allocate the best resources that we have in the areas to maximise competitiveness in the international arena," she told the business people.

Eastmond said one of the greatest challenges was absorbing the technical assistance offered.

"Often when they get back to their own country, there is not the prerequisite environment for implementation and sometimes individuals are transferred before they can make effective use," she said.

The minister lauded the Commonwealth Secretariat for its meaningful contribution and development to the region.

Two trainers from Britain with a combined 70 years of experience were hired as consultants for the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation.

The week-long training programme opened on Monday. It had 14 participants from Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados agencies which provide business support to the small business community

It included a discussion on Facilitating Networks And Clusters to identify how businesses can work together and widen the market by John Edgar, who has 50 years' experience in managing large engineering companies in Britain.

In addition, there was a practical side with Software Sector Manager which would enable them to manage businesses this was presented by Kevin Hanlon. The system is suppose to be used on the Internet to match companies and market opportunities in the region and abroad. Hanlon has 20 years' experience as the managing director of that software company.

Coordinator of the programme was Francine Blackman, chief business development advisor at the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development. (KB)