Government, CDB Launch Msme Training Series
The Government of the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) have launched a bi-weekly MSME Capacity Building Programme running from August 25 to October 29, 2026. The virtual and hybrid series will cover Business Continuity, Digital Marketing and Financial Management to help small businesses in Tortola, Virgin Gorda and other islands strengthen operations and access to finance.
The Government of the Virgin Islands, in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), has announced a targeted capacity-building series for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) aimed at strengthening resilience, digital reach and financial management across the Territory.
According to a government social media post, the MSME Capacity Building Programme will run from August 25 to October 29, 2026, with bi-weekly sessions offered in virtual and hybrid formats to make participation easier for entrepreneurs on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and the outer islands.
Organisers say the design reduces travel and time away from operations and mirrors previous CDB-backed efforts that trained hundreds of businesses across the Caribbean. The series is structured around three high-demand modules. The Business Continuity module focuses on planning for disruptions, risk management and resilience strategies to help enterprises maintain operations during shocks.
The Digital Marketing module covers practical tools for building an online presence, social media use and customer engagement. The Financial Management module will teach fundamentals such as costing, pricing, recordkeeping, budgeting and basic financial statement analysis. BVI officials note the topics address common pain points for local small businesses: keeping the doors open after disruptive events, reaching customers through digital channels and managing cash flow and accounts professionally.
These skills are closely linked in regional MSME programmes to improved access to finance and increased export readiness. The programme builds on a history of CDB and government-supported training in the region that combined physical classrooms, virtual sessions, business clinics and e-learning portals to improve accessibility for entrepreneurs.
Local authorities have also emphasised continued support through mentorship, business development services and targeted training delivered with international partners. The new series is part of wider efforts to strengthen the Territory’s entrepreneurial ecosystem alongside recent training completed with H.
Lavity Stoutt Community College and existing grant opportunities for MSMEs. Organisers encourage interested business owners to monitor official Government of the Virgin Islands channels for registration details and schedules. For BVI small business owners, organisers say the programme offers practical, bite-sized learning and opportunities to apply best practices that can improve day-to-day management and longer-term growth prospects.
Primary source: VINO