Women entrepreneurs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are being offered a significant opportunity to strengthen their businesses and access international markets, as the Caribbean Export Development Agency via Invest SVG, officially activates its GRIT programme locally this week.
The GRIT Activation Week runs from April 27 to 30, 2026, at Beachcombers Resort, Villa Beach, featuring a national launch ceremony, expert-led workshops, and stakeholder consultations tailored specifically for women-led businesses.
GRIT — which stands for Generating Resilient and Inclusive Trade — is a four-year initiative running from 2025 to 2028, implemented by the Caribbean Export Development Agency and funded by Global Affairs Canada. The programme carries a total value of USD $2.41 million and is currently active across Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The national launch ceremony took place on April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a networking lunch reception. A two-day workshop titled “Exporting to Canada: Opportunities and Pathways for Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs” runs on April 28 and 29, while a one-day session on digital marketing for Caribbean SMEs under the ProNet programme is scheduled for April 30. A stakeholder consultation for women-led enterprises is also being held on April 28, immediately following the first day of the export workshop.
Through training, technical assistance, matching grants, trade missions, and market intelligence tools, GRIT aims to equip women-led enterprises to scale their businesses, adopt green practices and technology, and compete in Canadian and other international markets.
The programme also includes data collection and mapping of women-led businesses in targeted countries, technology audits, and capacity building for the adoption of digital tools in business operations.
Women entrepreneurs who were unable to register for this week’s events are encouraged to stay connected with the programme for future opportunities. For more information, contact the GRIT Programme Unit at [email protected].