Instrumental in moving the affairs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from a single department in government to an entire organisation, former CEO of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) Valerie Veira envisions a very bright future for the often underserved sector.

Speaking in an interview with the Jamaica Observer a few days post-retirement, Veira, regarded as the ‘Mother of Jamaican MSMEs,’ said not only has she left the management of the sector in very capable hands but also believes that the development of policies over the years, along with the buildout of key infrastructure, will help to push the sector to greater successes.

“The biggest achievement for me is that the MSME sector is now on everybody’s lips and I’m also happy that we are still probably the only country in the region to have developed a policy to guide the development of the sector. I’m also happy that the national ecosystem consisting of the financial institutions and other support systems have been sensitised about the importance of the sector and have started to create products for its players. Importantly, we’re also now in the budget book which is another big achievement for us as this means that State-led financial support will also continue to flow to the sector,” Veira said to Sunday Finance.

“A lot of the work that we have put in since 2001 when we established the JBDC has been focused on ensuring that the sector gets a seat at the table and not only talked about by people who think they understand it. A lot of the achievements to date have shown that has a sector, we’re now on our way…moving from what was the Productive Business Centre to the JBDC. Despite our accomplishments, there is, however, so much more that can be achieved as the sector seeks out continuous improvement,” she added.

Harbouring no regrets about the work she has managed to get done in the last two decades, a hopeful Viera said she, however, wants to see a number of issues moved forward under the new leadership. Some of these include, she said, the continuation of major projects started such as the development of JBDC’s resource centres and incubators, greater budgetary and financial support secured for the sector, more opportunities created for the Things Jamaican stores, better development of the value chain process as well as a greater level of inclusion for members of the sector coming from the disabled community.

“This one is really close to my heart and I really want to see it accomplished, so I’ll be working with the team to ensure that this level of inclusive development will come for the sector,” she stated.

“There is lots to be done but the mission continues and I’m now on the sideline looking on at my children as they continue to make impact. I think the sector is in good hands and things are likely to get better — moving up, up and up from here. The fertiliser has already started to work and I think that as a country and despite the many challenges, we will continue to reap more successes as the sector bears fruit, especially as more potential is extracted from the very promising creative industry under which a lot of our MSMEs operate,” Veira further noted.

Not entirely now a lady of leisure, Viera said that while she now has the chance to spend more time with family, she will continue to engage in a number of philanthropic endeavours even at the public service level, as she makes the most of her retirement years.

Serving the JBDC for the last 23 years, almost half of her 50 years of service in public office, the organisation, which she helped to establish, is to be led by her protégé, Harold Davis, former deputy CEO, who, following her departure, was named acting CEO.

“Harry will be in big trouble if he doesn’t carry on the growth of the sector, he has been by my side from the very beginning, during the early days of the JBDC, so he is a very important part of the conceptualisation process and knows fully well the needs of the sector and so I’m very confident of his abilities, and I have no nervousness or anxiety that he will do well. I expect him to not only carry on the mission, but to also bring new dimensions of growth to the sector. I just ask that the entire team and support system continue to carry on the work, plus I’m only one phone call away and will always remain a resource personnel,” she said.