KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering female entrepreneurship and gender-inclusive economic growth with the staging of the SHE Means Business event on Wednesday, December 4, at the ROK Hotel in Kingston.

A major highlight of the evening was the official launch of BOOST HerBiz, an initiative funded by the DBJ and the Boosting Innovation, Growth, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Programme. BOOST HerBiz aims to advance the growth of female-led enterprises by providing two outstanding female entrepreneurs with J$1 million in funding each to scale their businesses. The BIGEE programme was launched in 2020 through a US$25 million loan agreement between the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In addition, the IDB secured a non-reimbursable grant of US$8.2 million from the European Union to support women-led and climate-focused enterprises.

Additionally, the event featured two dynamic panel discussions on Gender Lens Investing and The Female Entrepreneurship Journey. These discussions explored key insights on the economic and societal impact of investing in women-led enterprises, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities faced by female entrepreneurs in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

The Female Entrepreneurship Journey panel was a centerpiece of the evening, spotlighting three exceptional Jamaican, female entrepreneurs who have benefited from DBJ and BIGEE initiatives. The panel featured Barbara Kerr-Thompson, Founder and Principal of the Porter Centre for Knowledge; Kalilah Reynolds, Founder and CEO of Money Media Limited; and Tanya Batson-Savage, Founder of Blue Banyan Books. The women shared candid insights into the challenges they faced in building and operating their businesses and celebrated the milestones they achieved along the way. They also encouraged the audience to embrace innovation and collaboration as key drivers of entrepreneurial success, emphasising the importance of investing in their visions and leveraging opportunities for growth.

Speaking at the event, Renay Folkes-Johnson, Acting General Manager for Strategic Services at the DBJ, emphasised the Bank’s dedication to gender equity and economic empowerment, stating: “The Development Bank of Jamaica is committed to driving inclusive growth by creating opportunities for female entrepreneurs to access the resources and support needed to succeed. The launch of BOOST HerBiz underscores our focus on fostering innovation, empowering women, and strengthening Jamaica’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The SHE Means Business event is part of DBJ’s ongoing efforts to catalyse transformative change through strategic initiatives that align with Jamaica’s broader economic development objectives. By engaging stakeholders and implementing gender-focused programmes, the DBJ continues to champion sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.