SEDC, TEATT and RVO push MSME growth through Advanced Education Program

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Grisha Heyliger-Marten, together with the St. Maarten Entrepreneurship Development Center (SEDC), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT), has highlighted the continued rollout of the Advanced Education Program, an initiative within the E6 Country Package designed to help local micro, small and medium enterprises grow, modernize and compete.

The program, executed by SEDC, focuses on strengthening sector-specific skills and addressing gaps that often prevent business owners from moving to the next level. It is financed by the Temporary Work Organization (TWO), coordinated by RVO and ETT, and implemented in partnership with SEDC. The initiative targets existing entrepreneurs, aspiring business owners and MSMEs across several sectors.

Speaking at the Advanced Education Program training center, Minister Heyliger-Marten said the initiative is not simply about offering another series of workshops, but about creating practical opportunities for people who are trying to build income, formalize side businesses, monetize talent, manage rising costs and grow sustainable enterprises.

The Minister said St. Maarten’s entrepreneurs and MSMEs remain one of the most important pillars of the local economy. She described SEDC as more than a training institution, calling it an economic empowerment partner and a bridge between ideas and execution, talent and opportunity, and survival and growth.

According to Heyliger-Marten, the government’s economic approach under its Forward by Design agenda is centered on intentional economic development, with a focus on measurable, practical and sustainable opportunities for the people of St. Maarten. She said economic growth has little meaning if people are not equipped to participate in it.

Over the past six months, the Advanced Education Program has launched six major training programs with more than 73 participants across various sectors. These programs focused on areas such as financial literacy, energy efficiency, digital project management, business English, sustainable business practices and small business acceleration.

The Minister said these topics were selected because they reflect real business needs. Entrepreneurs, she said, need more than passion. They need financial knowledge, digital skills, operational structure, marketing tools, adaptability and the confidence to compete in a changing economy.

“The reality is that business is evolving globally, and St. Maarten cannot afford for entrepreneurs to be left behind,” Heyliger-Marten said.

Upcoming training opportunities are expected to include artificial intelligence business models, public relations and social media marketing, online presence and content production, grant writing, green entrepreneurship, enterprise development, fisheries and other sector-based business development areas. The Minister said these initiatives are part of a broader effort to diversify and modernize the economy while creating new opportunities for residents.

RVO representative Bernice Stoffer, program manager for the E6 Country Package economic development program and the Dutch Caribbean partnership program, said the initiative is designed to avoid duplication and ensure alignment between government, policy goals, training institutions and MSME support programs.

She explained that the Advanced Education Program is not focused only on basic business training, but on helping entrepreneurs elevate their business concepts and better position themselves in the market. This includes training in communication, languages, project management, artificial intelligence, innovation and other higher-level skills.

Stoffer said RVO is also working on curriculum development for the orange economy, which includes creative industries, arts, culture and related economic activity. She described this as an important opportunity for St. Maarten, particularly because of the country’s tourism-driven economy and the role that creative people can play in strengthening the destination.

She also pointed to the need for entrepreneurs to better understand financial information and proposal writing, especially when seeking funding. According to Suffers, many MSMEs in St. Maarten are unaware of available funding opportunities and need guidance in preparing business proposals and navigating application processes.

Stoffer said the program has already shown the level of talent that exists in St. Maarten. She also emphasized that the role of government and its partners is to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into plans and plans into execution.

Department Head Shervin Frederick, speaking on behalf of ETT, said SEDC is one of the key players in the wider MSME ecosystem, which also includes policy development, investment and diversification strategies, agriculture, fisheries and support for access to finance.

He said the department is working on several projects to strengthen MSMEs, including discussions with the NRPB and World Bank on support for policy strengthening. He noted that work is also being done on credit-related support for MSMEs and other instruments to help businesses grow.

Frederick said the objective is to strengthen the overall ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs, including the policies, funding mechanisms, institutions and internal government systems needed to help businesses succeed.

SEDC President Pearl Hendrickson said the organization has been operating for years and has already built a foundation by supporting startups and basic entrepreneurship development. She said the Advanced Education Program now allows SEDC to help entrepreneurs move beyond the basics, scale up and prepare for opportunities beyond the local market.

Hendrickson said the new Advanced Education Program training center gives SEDC a dedicated space to host training sessions and better serve entrepreneurs. SEDC’s office is also located at the facility, and entrepreneurs can contact the organization through its office, social media pages and WhatsApp channel.

Training sessions scheduled for the coming months include Financial Foundation from June 22 to July 13, public relations and social media training from June to July 14, and a three-day filming workshop from June 25 to 27. Additional sessions are planned in artificial intelligence business models, Canva, product content, online presentation, Instagram and Facebook visibility, and green enterprise training.

Stoffer explained that most of the training costs are covered through the subsidy, with participants asked to contribute only a small commitment fee ranging from approximately US $50 to US $100. She said entrepreneurs may register for multiple subsidized training opportunities.

Minister Heyliger-Marten encouraged entrepreneurs, aspiring business owners and members of the public to sign up and take advantage of the opportunities.

“Invest in yourself. Challenge yourself to learn something new,” the Minister said, urging previous participants to share their experiences and encourage others to join.

She said MSMEs continue to form the backbone of St. Maarten’s economy, from small shops and service providers to creatives, restaurants, wellness businesses, tourism support services and innovators. Very often, she said, these businesses represent families trying to create stability and generational progress.

“Together, we are building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem for St. Maarten,” Heyliger-Marten said. “Together, we are building opportunity, and together, we are moving forward by design.”

The full training schedule and registration information will be shared through the Minister’s page, SEDC’s page and government’s official channels.

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