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PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) has set out to lend a helping hand to entrepreneurs with its new Business Centre, which was officially opened on Friday.
The Centre is located adjacent to the Chamber's office on Cannegieter Street and has opened with two staffers, Tytania Archangel and another person. Archangel told The Daily Herald after the opening that the intention is to eventually strengthen the staffing capacity with a receptionist, a marketing manager, finance and budget manager and economist.
The Business Centre is a service centre for business development for entrepreneurs living in St. Maarten as well as business representatives seeking to do business with local entrepreneurs. The Centre offers use of its facilities, guidance, administrative assistance support, consultation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to entrepreneurs seeking to either start, expand or strengthen their business or business endeavours.
The Centre is equipped with ICT facilities and office capacity; a Customer Service area; a private section for business meetings and a business knowledge library section.
Chamber Vice President Stanley Lint said the COCI board recognises the importance of a viable and sustainable business community that can meet the demands of St. Maarten's growing economy and incentives for international trade.
"St. Maarten, a young democracy, characterised by an active and diverse economy, enhanced by a booming tourism industry, stabilised by its hub function due to its key geographical location, contains all the vital elements that facilitates an outstanding and excellent business climate," Lint told guests at the ceremony held in the parking lot outside the facility.
"In order to achieve an effective business environment that can operate according to international standards and demands, COCI has established a platform that supports the main contenders of this market, our entrepreneurs, by equipping this target group with the tools and support systems in various areas via the Business Centre."
The Business Centre provides a meeting point and offers services to entrepreneurs who are seeking prosperity in their business endeavours. "We encourage all entrepreneurs to explore this initiative aimed at supporting all our existing and future clients in order to guarantee and improve the success of new entrepreneurs, improve the current state of a business or ensure the continuity on a long term basis and maintain a certificate of good standing."
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Claret Connor, the former Chamber Executive Director, also addressed attendees. Connor said he was pleased to grace the opening of the Centre, which was years in the pipeline. He lauded Archangel for helping to bring the project to reality.
The vision of the Centre is to stimulate the enrolment of potential aspiring entrepreneurs and existing clients; improve the success rate and continuity of clients on a long term basis; influence and encourage business incentives; support the independent players in the market to generate "a proactive business community" and ensure sustainability of the business market and economic growth.
The chamber hopes that with the opening of the Centre it will provide the business community with information, data and statistics that will help establish or improve business relations and partnerships; develop and sustain a business savvy environment that can operate on any market whether local or foreign and compete on the international market; profile and support all business structures by enhancing and strengthening the available services and products and provide facilities, back office support, training and consultation and certification that will help improve organisational process, operations, financial profiles, professional- and or technological services."
Connor and United People's (UP) party Tamara Leonard cut the ribbon to officially open the Centre. Additional information on the Centre can be obtained by calling tel. 542-3593, fax 542-3512 or email
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