420 MSMEs Across 14 Territories Complete Project THRIVE – Charting a New Course for Caribbean Business Growth

Republic Financial Holdings Limited and the Caribbean Export Development Agency collaborate on a landmark initiative to  strengthen MSME export readiness and financial resilience across the region.

Bridgetown, BARBADOS.

Republic Financial Holdings Limited in partnership with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) and supported by the European Union, have successfully completed Phase 1 of Project THRIVE – an impactful capacity-building initiative designed to unlock the export and finance potential of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the Caribbean.

A total of 420 MSMEs participated in the programme, representing Anguilla, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Business Capacity Building 1.0, the first phase of Project THRIVE, equipped participants with practical skills, tools, and knowledge to enhance their operational resilience, improve access to finance, and enhance export readiness in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Women‑owned and women‑led enterprises accounted for 66% of the participants, highlighting both the programme’s strong appeal among female entrepreneurs, and their commitment to growth and developmental. The cohort also reflected a diverse cross-section of industries, including professional services, agriculture, agro‑processing, manufacturing, retail, and technology.

The Programme delivered by Cloud Vision Academy, featured five core modules:

•             Business Strategy and Planning

•             Grant Proposal Writing

•             E‑commerce Essentials

•             Export Marketing

•             Cost and Financial Accounting

Each module was facilitated by subject‑matter experts and delivered through three interactive virtual sessions, enabling participants to apply learnings directly to their businesses.

Participant feedback underscored the programme’s impact, with strong engagement levels and positive responses to the quality of facilitation and the relevance of the content. Following this successful Phase 1 completion, 50 of the top 108 participants will advance to Phase 2: The Access to Finance Accelerator – a six‑month, in‑depth development programme offering personalised mentoring, one‑on‑one coaching, and deeper business‑development interventions designed to accelerate growth and export potential. Eligible participants will be contacted by the Project THRIVE team in the coming week with further details on the next phase.

Commenting on the programme, Richard S. Sammy, Group Vice President, Republic Financial Holdings Limited, stated:

“Project THRIVE embodies our commitment to elevating our MSMEs. We are deeply encouraged by the outstanding participation and congratulate all participants on their success. When MSMEs thrive, entire economies thrive, and together with our valued partner Caribbean Export, we look forward to advancing Phase 2 and delivering tangible impact across the region.”

Damie Sinanan, Executive Director, Caribbean Export Development Agency, added: “Project THRIVE is precisely the kind of transformative, private-sector-led partnership that Caribbean Export was created to champion. The breadth of participation across territories – and the remarkable representation of women entrepreneurs – affirms that Caribbean businesses are ready to compete on a regional and global stage. We are proud to stand alongside Republic Bank in equipping the next generation of Caribbean exporters.”

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