The Government is assuring investors in social enterprises that legislation and institutional reforms are being implemented for the sector.
According to Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown, the sector is getting crucial attention to ensure widespread awareness of the concept of social enterprises, and the provision of business development support services.
He was opening a two-day workshop on the sector, today (June 7), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
Mr. Brown said capacity building that strengthens and enhances the growth of the sector is ongoing to promote creativity and innovation in social entrepreneurship, and will culminate in a viable legal structure for social enterprise operation.
“The Government will continue to increase its efforts to provide robust support to the social enterprise, to make the sector more vibrant, competitive and sustainable,” he told the participants.
The event is part of the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), organised by the JN Foundation, in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been established to create empowering opportunities in social enterprises.
It is particularly geared at organisations that are committed to the development and sustainability of the social and economic well-being of communities, groups and individuals. They are receiving support from the SEBI to become significant contributors to national growth.
Topics for discussion at the workshop include ‘Social Enterprises: a global trend – but what are they?’, ‘Jamaican social enterprises supporting social and economic goals’, and ‘Using social enterprises to address developmental challenges’.
A social enterprise is a revenue-generating business whose primary objective is to maximise profits so as to reinvest the surplus in the business or the community for social or environmental well-being.
