With the rise of entrepreneurship in Jamaica, small businesses are urged to not only focus on wealth, but meeting international standards.

“Women make up a large part of the productive sector, but most small businesses think standards aren’t important,” said Julia Bonner-Douett, director, Standards, Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ). “In order for small businesses to do well, they need to fully understand that in every process of production, there are clear international standards.”

The Bureau of Standards provides standards and regulatory services for businesses, as well as a system of standards for the manufacturing process and the quality goods produced in Jamaica.

Jamaican goods, such as soap and garment, which are exported need to be of high quality if they are to compete with similar products made overseas, according to Andrea Graham, CEO of The Business Development Agency.

“For any business to grow, those who own them should be serious about doing business”, she said at the Women in Business Conference 2012 at Medallion Hall in Kingston yesterday.

The Agency collaborates with some 30 companies to provide training and support as well as help in sourcing financing for its membership.

The BSJ also offers training to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

It plans to set up a committee with them to MSMEs with research about the standard needed for small business products.

Bonner-Douett said that the BSJ is aiming to promote consistency in product delivery time; consistency in product quality and pricing, among the small businesses.