Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The Chinese ambassador has met with government officials set to travel to China for a seminar designed to boost growth among Bahamian small and medium-sized businesses.
Yan Jiarong saw Barry Griffin, chairman of the Bahamas Trade Commission; Randy Rolle, chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission; and Dave Munroe, acting managing director of The Bahamas Development Bank (BDB), on Friday ahead of their trip to the ‘Seminar on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) management for The Bahamas’.
The ambassador and Peng Jing, commercial attaché at the Chinese embassy in The Bahamas, also held exchanges on economic and trade co-operation, SME management and capacity building with the trio.
Ms Jiarong outlined China’s path to modernisation, the Global Development Initiative(GDI) and China’s policies and practices in SME development, e-commerce and consumer protection. She emphasised that SMEs, which connect millions of households, are a vital force in driving innovation, creating jobs and improving livelihoods.
The seminar, which is designed to align with The Bahamas’ needs and priorities, will allow participants to learn more about China’s successful SME development, have direct interaction with Chinese SMEs, and further benefit both nations and their peoples.
The three Bahamian government representatives shared their expectations for the upcoming visit to China, raising questions and co-operation proposals that require in-depth discussions with their Chinese counterparts. Three seminars are planned in China this year.
In addition to the seminar on SME management, the other two involved an ‘Agricultural by-products production strategy for The Bahamas’, which was held in June, and the upcoming ‘Seminar on tourism management for The Bahamas’ that is set to take place in September. Each seminar hosts 23 participants, and all expenses - including international travel, and costs in China - are covered by the Chinese government.
The SME management seminar will take place from August 5 to 18.. Key topics include: Best practices in promoting international co-operation for SMEs; Laws and regulations for SME development and protection; SME support service systems; Innovation capacity building for SMEs; SME leadership and corporate culture; and development models and trends in cross-border e-commerce for SMEs.
The programme combines lectures, interactive exchanges and market research. Participants will conduct field visits to Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, which is one of China’s most dynamic regions for SME development. It is hoped that this exchange of knowledge and mutual learning will foster stronger SME collaboration and shared development between the two countries.
Comments
IslandWarrior says...
> Chinese Embassy Engagement with
> Bahamian SMEs or diplomatic optics?
Are these announcements merely positive narrative presented publicly, concerns have emerged regarding the Embassy’s effectiveness in engaging with local stakeholders. A prominent Bahamian development group, spearheading a major Redevelopment Project, has expressed frustration over the Chinese Embassy’s lack of responsiveness. The group reports having sent 12 detailed emails to Embassy officials over the past 12 months, including follow-up communications specifically addressed to key Embassy personnel. Despite assurances in a June email indicating a promised response, the group has yet to receive any substantive communication from the Embassy.
This discrepancy raises questions regarding whether the Chinese Embassy’s publicly advertised initiatives truly reflect an earnest commitment to comprehensive local stakeholder engagement, or if they are primarily aimed at generating positive diplomatic optics.
The Bahamian development group's experience underscores the importance of consistent and effective communication between diplomatic missions and local business leaders, especially in fostering meaningful international partnerships and ensuring the practical implementation of announced initiatives.
As the Bahamian delegation prepares to depart for China, the Embassy's future actions will likely be scrutinized by local stakeholders, who are keen to see tangible benefits from these diplomatic exchanges translate into concrete support for their enterprises and local development.
Posted 5 August 2025, 4:03 p.m. Suggest removal
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