Business View Oceania - Mar 2024

manufacturing as well as more local jobs.” Minister Jarvis also commended the program for its support of environmentally sustainable practices, citing examples such as Edible Cutlery and Stash Coffee. Regional Development Minister Don Punch echoed Minister Jarvis’s sentiments, noting the program’s increasing popularity and its positive effects on both new entrants and established players, including those within the wine industry. Minister Punch emphasized, “This transformational program is helping drive growth and employment throughout the State, supporting regional communities and economies.” Since the inception of the voucher program in 2018, over $1.39 million has been disbursed through 286 vouchers to small and medium-sized food and beverage enterprises, attracting nearly $2 million in matching funding. 10 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03