Local products showcased at the NDF Grand Client Expo

Several businesses came together this week to showcase their goods and services as part of the National Development Foundation (NDF) Grand Client Expo.{{more}}

The event took place between Wednesday, March 7, 2010, and Friday 9, 2010, at the Kingstown Anglican School Annex.

The main objectives of the event are to create a spirit of entrepreneurship among Vincentians, as well as promoting small and micro business in St. Vincent and increasing the awareness and support of local products and services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Vice President of the NDF Philmore Issacs labeled the event as a “display of creativity, effort and energy” by those involved.

Issacs, who entitled his speech “Measuring Up”, spoke on the issue of setting and keeping standards when it comes to goods and services. Defining a standard as the minimum or maximum set of criteria which a good or service must meet to qualify as acceptable, Issacs charged the audience to consider whether or not they are adhering to set standards.

Also making brief remarks, Minister of Industry Dr Jerrol Thompson urged entrepreneurs to make appropriate adjustments to deal with the economic crisis. He, however, advised entrepreneurs to keep their marketing budget in tact, as marketing ensures that consumers are informed about the business activities.

Thompson added that persons should analyze their budget so that they get “more bang for (their) buck”. Referring to the current time as the ‘new normal’, Thompson said that we cannot return to the normal we knew before. “The world has changed significantly; the world is no longer how is used to be in the 80’s and 90’s,” Thompson said.

He advised that persons come up with strategies to survive during the economic crisis. He further suggested monitoring bills and spending less while saving more.

The opening ceremony also included welcoming remarks by Executive Director of the NDF, Hermina Neehall, and a musical presentation by the South East Steel Orchestra.

Twenty-nine entrepreneurs were featured at the event in the categories of Construction, Manufacturing, Service, Upholstery, Agri business, Joinery, Dressmaking Catering, and Craft.