Chamber, Trade Department Deepen Collaboration
Junior Minister Hon. Lorna G. Smith OBE says the BVI Chamber of Commerce (BVICC) and the Trade Department are working closely to strengthen the territory’s private sector, including a grants programme for small businesses. BVICC chairman Sinclair H. Flemming Jr has also promoted regional partnerships by bringing Caribbean business owners to showcase goods and services on a cruise-ship event.
The British Virgin Islands Chamber of Commerce (BVICC) and the Territory’s Trade Department are intensifying their cooperative work to support local businesses, Junior Minister Hon. Smith OBE said during the Talking Points programme on ZBVI 780 AM on May 18, 2026. Smith described the Chamber as the primary private-sector representative in the Virgin Islands and praised new BVICC chairman Sinclair H.
Flemming Jr for his proactive engagement with both government and the business community. "We work with him very closely. He meets with us," she said, noting the two bodies are collaborating on a grants programme geared toward small businesses across the BVI. The renewed partnership follows structural changes within the Chamber.
For decades the organisation operated as the combined BVI Chamber of Commerce & Hotel Association (BVICCHA), but the sectors have recently separated to allow more specialised representation. Smith said the split is enabling clearer advocacy for both general business and tourism interests while maintaining joint initiatives where beneficial.
Beyond grant support, the Chamber is fostering regional linkages to open markets and promote services. Smith highlighted a recent initiative led by the Chamber chairman that brought a group of business owners from the French Caribbean and other islands including Antigua and St Lucia to the BVI on a cruise-ship visit.
The delegation displayed products and services, combining tourism activity with business promotion and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to network and explore new supply or sales relationships. For BVI residents, the collaboration underscores several potential benefits: improved access to grant funding and technical support for small businesses, increased exposure to regional markets and products, and targeted advocacy for the territory’s commercial and tourism sectors.
The Trade Department’s partnership with BVICC is intended to coordinate resources and programmes that build local capacity and stimulate sustainable economic growth. Smith’s comments, reported by Virgin Islands News Online, reflect a government and private-sector approach that seeks to balance specialised representation with collaborative initiatives.
Small business owners are encouraged to contact the Trade Department or the BVICC for information on the grants programme and upcoming promotional opportunities that could support expansion and market access.
Primary source: VINO