ANOTHER group of entrepreneurs involved in food production is tapping into the just-launched Internet service of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) as part of their regimen of training.
The entrepreneurs yesterday became the first batch to benefit from IPED's new Technologies for Productivity Entrepreneurial Development Programme at the institute's South Road training headquarters.
In brief welcome remarks, IPED Executive Director Dr. Walter Chin said IPED's core business entails the provision of small loans to facilitate enterprising ventures.
Chairman of IPED Mr. Yesu Persaud said the institute has grown since its establishment in 1986 from a sole office to a countrywide business facilitation agency.
Persaud said that while the institute equipped 25 entrepreneurs during its first year, to date approximately 40,000 persons have benefited from IPED's loan schemes, free counseling and training in accountancy and managerial skills. At present, more than 5,000 clients are enlisted with IPED for business development.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds commended the IPED business enhancement initiative. Noting that many desire to experience improvements in the social services, and infrastructure development, Mr. Hinds said, "Improvements in productivity are the basis for the necessary conditions for improvements in standards of living".
Following the formal ceremony, Mr. Hinds viewed Internet surfing demonstrations by the IPED clients, whose research for business improvements involve crop storage, aqua-culture, pine-apple production, food processing, seasoning preservation, fish preservation and cash crop production.