ECCB 2014-2015 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts

EASTERN CARIBBEAN CENTRAL BANK

•  • Business Networking – Pooling Ideas and Finances to Achieve Global Competitiveness by Mr Melvin Edwards, Regional Business Consultant and international credit union specialist, Saint Lucia; and •  • Bouncing Back From Set Backs and Failure, a panel discussion led by Mr Neil Owen, Director of Sales and New Business Development, Consolidated Systems and Supplies, St Kitts and Nevis and Mr Lennox Lampkin, Farmer and Former Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, St Vincent and the Grenadines. FIM forms part of the ECCU public education programme which is coordinated by the ECCB in collaboration with over 140 FIM partners across the ECCU including financial institutions, government ministries, the media and community groups. The ECCB conducted workshops, seminars and presentations on a wide array of topics which were designed to help build capacity through various avenues. The following were conducted: •  • Youth symposium on Business Innovation Workshop for High School Students; •  • Train the Trainers Workshop for Financial Practitioners on Competitiveness in the Financial Services Sector; •  • Train the Trainers Workshop for Teachers on Business Competitiveness; and •  • Customer Relationship Management Workshop Stakeholder Capacity Building Initiatives

for financial service providers hosted in partnership with Quintessence Consulting and Arcos Technologies Inc.

Financial and Business Training In June 2014, the ECCB piloted the Small Business Workshop Part II with a view to continuing to enhance the competitiveness of micro and small business owners in the region. The workshop, which focuses on Business Innovation, Best Practices, Competitiveness and ICT, complements its predecessor in providing practical, real-world information on how to build a successful, profitable and dynamic small business. Part I of the workshop was launched in 2012 and focused on Business Planning, Creative Thinking, Marketing and Financial Management. Additionally, throughout the financial year the ECCB, in collaboration with key stakeholders, made several media presentations that serve as platforms to engage, inform and educate the public on financial, business, economic and entrepreneurial matters. Those initiatives played a valuable role in the continued development of the framework and architecture of the region’s economic system.

The ECCU Mentorship School Programme

A new initiative, the Grade Six Transition Session, was implemented as part of the ECCU Primary School Mentorship Programme. The session was held via videoconference and allowed the Grade Six students from across the ECCU to interact with each

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ECCB ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015