THE range of business services utilised by micro and small enterprises (MSEs), which is financed under the Development Bank of Jamaica's (DBJ) Voucher for Technical Assistance Programme (VTAP), is being widened to incorporate digital transformation.
According to general manager for strategic services at the DBJ, Christopher Brown, this is to enable eligible MSEs to acquire the requisite Web-based tools and other inputs that will reposition them to function more seamlessly during and after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The voucher, which the bank introduced five years ago, is one of several MSE-tailored products that targeted entities can use to access technical support services from the DBJ's accredited Business Development Organisations (BDOs).
Brown said the provisions currently financed include business and marketing plan development; product testing and formulation support; and the generation of financial statements.
Additionally, Brown pointed out that market intelligence gleaned by the DBJ indicated that since March there has been increased demand for these services relative to others, coinciding with the onset of COVID-19.
