More Focus to be placed on YEP

The Government will be placing increased focus on its Young Entrepreneurs Programme (YEP) in order to encourage more young people to own their own business.
State Minister for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern, said today (April 8) that not enough youngsters are taking advantage of the programme, which was launched last year.
“We are now moving to make more of our young people aware of YEP,” the Minister stated as he addressed the University of Technology’s (UTech) annual students’ conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston.
YEP is targeted at high and tertiary school leavers, who are interested in starting their own business, providing them with training, and access to funding and post-loan support services. The programme is being managed by Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), which has made $200 million available for viable projects through micro finance institutions.

Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Michael Stern (centre), has a light moment with Head of the University of Technology’s (UTech) School of Business Administration, Joan Lawla (left) and President of Guardian Life, Eric Hosin, (right) at UTech’s 15th annual students’ conference held today (April 8) at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

President of Guardian Life Limited, Mr. Eric Hosin, who was the guest speaker, also encouraged the youngsters to seek to become entrepreneurs. “This is certainly something that is lacking and there is no limit to the opportunities available,” he stated.
Citing the qualities necessary to manage a successful business, he said that among the most important is having a positive attitude, noting that negative thoughts lead to destruction. “It leads to you just seeing doom and gloom when it really is a time to bloom,” he said. He also warned persons to avoid individuals who are negative.
Mr. Hosin also encouraged the students not to be lazy, to work hard and enjoy what they are doing, to make sacrifices, invest wisely, and to prepare for retirement.
The conference was held under the theme: ‘Managing Change, Sustaining Growth in a Challenging Global environment’.