Charge D’affaires at the US Embassy in Nassau John Dinkelman has spoken of his country’s support for Bahamian businesses and commitment to building a profitable relationship between the two economies.

Speaking at the Global Trade and Financing Seminar held in Nassau earlier in the year, the Embassy representative said that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were key to an economy’s growth and entrepreneurs should be given access to various means of support.

“We will support Bahamian businesses through educational exchanges, grants and speaker series. We want to listen to you, partner with you, and continue to conduct sessions such as these,” he told the audience of businessmen and women. “The stronger both our economies become, the stronger our growing relationship will be.”

According to figures from the US Department of Commerce, The Bahamas was ranked the 48th largest US export market from 2008 to 2010.

Dinkelman noted that this was indicative of “the deep and continuous commercial relationship we share and which evolves every day.”

The US Embassy hosted the seminar in partnership with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) to educate local entrepreneurs on financing opportunities and provide an opportunity to network.

Dinkelman encouraged the business community to take advantage of the event saying: “[You have a] desire to connect with other business leaders and build professional networks. It is this entrepreneurial spirit and belief in market forces that has built nations and established trust throughout communities worldwide.”

“By definition entrepreneurship simply means undertaking an activity or doing something.You are all people who do things and who get things done.”

cmorris@dupuch.com